Starmer makes cost of living vow and minister issues petrol prices warning ahead of Cobra meeting

Prime minister and US president agreed reopening Strait of Hormuz is ‘essential’ to stabilise global energy market
Sir Keir Starmer is set to chair an emergency Cobra meeting after a call with Donald Trump over the Middle East crisis.

In a conversation on Sunday night, the UK prime minister and the US president agreed reopening the Strait of Hormuz is “essential” to stabilise a global energy market that had seen oil prices rocket since Mr Trump began his joint campaign with Israel against Iran .

Sir Keir’s response to the crisis has been heavily criticised by Mr Trump, as the UK is among the countries that have resisted the president’s demand for other nations to send ships to open the strait, due to an unwillingness to be drawn into the wider war .

But amid fresh concerns that much of Europe could be within range of Iranian weapons, and facing the threat of higher inflation and further disruption to fuel supplies, Sir Keir will convene his top ministers at a Cobra meeting on Monday afternoon.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves , foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and the governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey , are among those set to attend the meeting, which is expected to focus on the economic impact of the crisis, energy security and the resilience of industry and supply chains alongside the international response.

Minister calls for ‘de-escalation’ after Trump issues 48-hour ultimatum
A government minister has called for “de-escalation” after Donald Trump set a deadline for Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The US president set a 48-hour deadline, due to expire on Monday, demanding Iran open the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its power plants.

Asked whether the government agrees with this approach, housing minister Matthew Pennycook told Sky News: “You're tempting me to comment on US strategy that's for the US government.

“We have been very clear, alongside our allies, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, that we need to urgently see an end to this conflict.

We need to de-escalate matters.

That's in our national interest.”
Government will ‘fight people’s corner’ as PM to chair Cobra meeting
Political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
The government will “fight the British people’s corner”, a minister has vowed, as the prime minister prepares to chair a Cobra meeting this afternoon.

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook told Sky News he would not preempt what will be said in the meeting, but added: “The chancellor has said herself that there is every chance that this crisis does put upward pressure on inflation, we’re very alive to the risks.

"But as I say, we're monitoring that situation.

We'll fight the British people's corner.

We will stand behind them when it comes to ensuring that the cost of living impact challenges are mitigated.”
Global oil supplies down 20% and price rises 'inescapable' British Gas chief warns
Global oil supplies are already down 20 per cent because of the Middle East conflict and price rises are “inescapable”, the chief executive of Centrica, which owns British Gas, warned on Sunday.

But the government is keen to play down the prospect of fuel rationing and discourage people from panic-buying petrol.

Communities secretary Steve Reed told broadcasters on Sunday there was “no need” to ration fuel and the public should continue to fill up their cars “just like they always would”.

Starmer and Trump discuss reopening Strait of Hormuz in call
Sir Keir Starmer had a call with Donald Trump to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday night.

The prime minister and the US president agreed reopening the strait was “essential” to stabilise a global energy market that had seen oil prices rocket since Mr Trump began his joint campaign with Israel against Iran.

The 20-minute call, described by sources as “constructive”, followed a week in which Mr Trump had heavily criticised Sir Keir’s response to the crisis amid the president’s demand for other nations to send ships to open the strait.

Other nations have so far resisted his demand, with the UK thought to be unlikely to send vessels because of the high level of risk in the strait and an unwillingness to be drawn into the wider war.

But Tehran’s unsuccessful attempt to strike the UK-US base on Diego Garcia with ballistic missiles has raised concerns that much of Europe could be within range of Iranian weapons.

While the strait remains effectively closed to most shipping, the impact on the global energy market and the global economy is set to continue.

Starmer to convene emergency Cobra meeting today
Sir Keir Starmer is set to convene an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday after a call with Donald Trump to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Facing the threat of higher inflation and concerns about disruption to fuel supplies, Sir Keir will convene his top ministers at a Cobra meeting on Monday afternoon.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and energy secretary Ed Miliband are expected to join the meeting, as well as the governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey.

The meeting is expected to focus on the economic impact of the crisis, energy security and the resilience of industry and supply chains alongside the international response.

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