Starmer Leads Cobra Meeting as Energy Bills Set to Surge £300
Sir Keir Starmer will chair a Cobra meeting as energy bills are forecast to surge by almost £300 from July. The prime minister said the session will ensure the UK has systems in place to respond to the crisis. Motorists have already felt the cost, with drivers paying an estimated £544 million extra for fuel since the conflict began.
Energy cap shifts and forecasts
Ofgem’s price cap will fall by £117, to £1,641, from Wednesday. That change follows the government pledge to cut bills by about £150 through removal of green subsidies.
Analyst Cornwall Insight now forecasts the watchdog’s cap for July to September at £1,929. That represents an increase of £288, or around 18%, compared with April’s cap.
Support for vulnerable households and heating oil users
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said targeted help for poorer households could be offered if bills rise further. Ministers worry about pressures in autumn when heating demand increases.
Homes using heating oil, which sits outside the Ofgem cap, have seen costs soar. The government announced a £53 million support package for these customers.
Fuel prices and pressure on drivers
Diesel reached 182.8p per litre at UK forecourts on Monday, according to RAC analysis. That is a 28% rise from 142.4p on February 28, the day the Middle East conflict began.
Average petrol stood at 152.0p per litre. That figure is 14% higher than 132.8p on the same February date.
Starmer has said the planned September rise in fuel duty will be kept under review given developments in Iran. The government has also promoted a price comparison app to help drivers find cheaper fuel.
Party responses and policy proposals
Ms Reeves’s assurances appeared to rule out another universal subsidy scheme like that under Liz Truss. Instead, ministers point to targeted measures as the likely route.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch proposed cutting VAT on energy bills for three years. She also called for scrapping some green levies and halting the planned fuel duty rise.
International tensions and shipping risks
The Strait of Hormuz blockade has worsened supply concerns. Iran-backed Houthi strikes against Israel have raised fears of attacks on Red Sea shipping.
A Thai cargo ship was reported struck in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident has added urgency to the security discussions at the Cobra meeting.
Diplomatic movements and warnings
Starmer welcomed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Downing Street ahead of the Cobra meeting. Defence Secretary John Healey travelled to the Middle East to consult UK allies in the Gulf.
The US president said talks with Iran had made “great progress”, a claim Iran denies. Separately, Trump warned the US could “completely obliterate” Iran’s power plants and oil wells. He also raised the prospect of targeting desalination facilities.
Filmogaz.com will continue to monitor developments as the Cobra meeting convenes and energy bills face further upward pressure.
