Observe our politics dwell weblog for updates on all of the day’s information in Westminster
Chancellor Rachel Reeves (Picture: PARLIAMENT TV)
Rachel Reeves was accused of leaving Britain “weak, weak, weak” as she set out plans to guard the general public amid price of residing fears sparked by the Iran warfare.
The Chancellor made a press release to MPs as gas costs have surged in latest weeks.
However Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride hit again: “On vitality, on the price of residing, on jobs, on development, on public funds, on each measure that issues, this Chancellor has left us weak, weak, weak.
“And within the face of this vitality shock, there are thousands and thousands who’re about to endure in consequence.”
5 days in the past17:05 Katie Harris
Tory oil and fuel movement defeated
The Conservatives’ movement demanding new oil and fuel drilling within the North Sea to assist deal with hovering gas costs was defeated by 297 votes to 108, majority 189.
MPs then handed an modification to the movement that welcomes the Authorities’s method to the way forward for the North Sea, which maintains present oil and fuel fields for his or her lifetime, whereas accelerating the transition to wash vitality.
Reform UK has suspended its Hampshire mayoral candidate after he appeared to liken a Jewish neighbourhood watch group to “Islamists on horseback”.
A celebration spokesman stated: “Chris Parry has been suspended by Reform UK, pending investigation.”
5 days in the past14:10 Katie Harris
New drilling ‘will not take a penny off payments’
Vitality minister Martin McCluskey insisted that new oil and fuel drilling within the North Sea “will not take a penny off payments”.
He instructed the Commons: “The North Sea oil and fuel sector is certainly one of our nice industrial success tales. We’re pleased with the function that the North Sea’s employees and communities have performed in serving to to energy our nation and the world for many years and we recognise the function that oil and fuel will play in our vitality combine for many years to return.
“However as a Authorities we even have an obligation to be sincere concerning the challenges that we face and the truth is that extra home oil and fuel manufacturing will not make us extra vitality safe and will not take a penny off payments.”
5 days in the past13:55 Katie Harris
Tory Opposition Day debate underway
The Tory Opposition Day debate calling for brand new oil and fuel drilling within the North Sea is now underway.
Shadow vitality secretary Claire Coutinho kicked it off by telling the Commons: “What do Renewables UK, Scottish Renewables, Greg Jackson from Octopus, the chair of Nice British Vitality, the unions and Tony Blair Institute all have in frequent?
“All of them assume the Labour Social gathering has obtained this mistaken. All of them assume that we must always benefit from our oil and fuel within the North Sea.
“These are a number of the strongest advocates for clear vitality on this nation, these are the nice and the nice of the Labour Left.
“All of them get that shutting down the North Sea is an act of financial self hurt, an unforgivable personal purpose in the case of Britain’s vitality safety. The query is why would not the Labour Social gathering?”
(Picture: PARLIAMENT TV) 5 days in the past13:53 Katie Harris
Greens slam Reeves’s plan
Zack Polanski has branded the Chancellor’s response to fears about the price of residing amid the Center East battle “unbelievably weak”.
The Inexperienced chief stated: “That is an unbelievably weak response from the Chancellor to the large invoice hikes dealing with households within the UK.
“Monitoring the state of affairs? Contemplating new powers? Reeves’s lukewarm phrases present that she and her Authorities merely don’t perceive the size of the cost-of-living disaster about to hit this nation.
“We want a assure that vitality payments is not going to rise previous June, funded by a strengthened windfall tax and better taxes on excessive wealth.
“And the Authorities ought to observe the instance set by Spain in taking speedy motion to cut back the burden on households by freezing rents.”
5 days in the past13:40 Katie Harris
Former chancellor points warning to Reeves
Conservative former chancellor Sir Jeremy Hunt has warned Rachel Reeves to not improve the UK’s nationwide debt and to make sure any assist within the wake of the Center East battle will likely be totally funded.
Talking within the Commons, he stated the Chancellor ought to be “much less partisan at a time of disaster” however welcomed her “focused relatively than common method”.
Referring to his time in authorities when Russia invaded Ukraine, Sir Jeremy added: “Though final time, we gave assist to households and households along with her assist by growing borrowing, we can not react to each single financial shock by additional growing our nationwide debt.
“So will she verify that when she involves the Home in her finances, with focused assist, will probably be fully-funded and never funded by growing, but once more, our nationwide debt?”
5 days in the past13:39 Katie Harris
Lib Dems urge Reeves to take away VAT on heating oil
The Liberal Democrats have referred to as on the Chancellor to take away VAT on heating oil and liquefied petroleum fuel (LPG).
Within the Commons, the get together’s Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper stated: “Households are fearful, will the Chancellor take into account zero-rating VAT on heating oil and LPG?”
Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride rounded on Vitality Secretary Ed Miliband over his internet zero drive.
He stated: “Nothing exemplifies this Authorities’s financial folly greater than its method to grease and fuel.
“The completely misguided internet zero obsession of the Vitality Secretary have led to the absurdity of diminished extraction while we see jobs destroyed, tax revenues foregone and vitality safety smashed.”
He insisted that the North Sea has “fields able to go” which may provide vitality to thousands and thousands, however that the Chancellor has “nothing to say on the matter”.
Sir Mel added: “Much less oil and fuel extraction means better dependency and fewer safety. This highway results in smash.”
5 days in the past13:22 Katie Harris
Reeves has left UK ‘weak, weak, weak’
Sir Mel Stride accused the Chancellor of getting left Britain “weak, weak, weak”.
The Shadow Chancellor instructed the Commons: “On vitality, on the price of residing, on jobs, on development, on public funds, on each measure that issues, this Chancellor has left us weak, weak, weak.
“And within the face of this vitality shock, there are thousands and thousands who’re about to endure in consequence.”
(Picture: PARLIAMENT TV) 5 days in the past13:03 Katie Harris
Financial system ‘in tatters’ and ‘one step from its knees’
Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride stated the economic system is “in tatters” and that Rachel Reeves has introduced it “one step from its knees”.
In response to the Chancellor’s assertion, he instructed the Commons: “She would have us imagine that she has delivered the steadiness and resilience that may climate the storm forward however she has finished nothing of the type.
“When she got here into workplace, she ramped up borrowing and spending, and hiked taxes to document ranges.
“She was warned on the time by the OBR and others that her insurance policies would imply larger inflation, larger borrowing prices, larger rates of interest and that she would destroy jobs. All of that has come to go.
“Beneath this Authorities, we’re getting poorer and our economic system is more and more fragile and much from safe and resilient.”
The Competitors and Markets Authority could have the ability to “crack down on worth gouging”, Rachel Reeves has stated.
The Chancellor instructed the Commons: “As we speak, I can announce that we’re going additional to ensure that the Competitors and Markets Authority have the powers that they want, that had been denied to them by the earlier authorities, to detect and to crack down on worth gouging, bringing in a brand new anti-profiteering framework and contemplating time-limited, focused powers for the CMA and different regulators.”
She added that the CMA is already working with the Authorities to observe the price of family necessities for each worth rises and disruption, and the authority has launched a market examine into heating oil.
5 days in the past12:54 Katie Harris
Reeves says oil and fuel will play function for ‘a long time to return’
Rachel Reeves has stated the Authorities is encouraging funding in tiebacks, which permit a small quantity of latest fossil gas extraction.
In a press release to the Commons, the Chancellor stated: “I’ve introduced that we’ll discover a brand new defence financing and procurement mechanism with the Netherlands, Finland and different EU and Nato companions.
“I welcome the Worldwide Vitality Company choice to authorise a coordinated launch of our collective oil reserves to alleviate the speedy strain on provide, and the UK has now begun the discharge of our share of 13-and-a -half million barrels of oil.”
Ms Reeves stated “by means of decided motion this Authorities is taking management of our personal vitality provide, investing in renewables, lifting the ban on onshore wind, and streamlining grid connections”.
“We should assure our home oil and fuel trade also can play a task in our vitality system for many years to return. And so I can verify that we’re encouraging funding in tiebacks to benefit from our present manufacturing services,” she added.
5 days in the past12:53 Katie Harris
Reeves warns of financial hit from Iran warfare
Rachel Reeves has warned the financial challenges from the Iran warfare could also be “vital” and contingency planning is below method for vitality invoice assist “for many who want it most”.
The Chancellor instructed MPs: “Contingency planning is happening for each eventuality in order that we will preserve prices down for everybody and supply assist for many who want it most, appearing inside our iron-clad fiscal guidelines to maintain inflation and rates of interest as little as doable.
“This isn’t a warfare that we began, neither is it a warfare that we joined… however it’s a warfare that can have an effect on our nation.
“The challenges could also be vital however I promise to do what is true and honest, being responsive in a altering world and accountable within the nationwide curiosity.”
5 days in the past12:38 Katie Harris
Reeves provides Commons assertion
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is setting out plans to guard the general public amid the Iran warfare in a press release within the Commons.
(Picture: PARLIAMENT TV) 5 days in the past11:47 Katie Harris
Union calls on Labour to extend North Sea manufacturing
Unite normal secretary Sharon Graham stated: “North Sea employees are shedding their jobs, at a time when the necessity for home oil and fuel has by no means been better.
“Everyone knows that no matter occurs the UK will nonetheless want for oil and fuel for many years to return and the warfare in Iran is simply the newest reminder that after we depend on abroad manufacturing our vitality safety is on the mercy of worldwide occasions.
“This authorities should not let go of 1 rope earlier than having maintain of one other.”
5 days in the past11:41 Katie Harris
Badenoch requires taxes on vitality payments to be axed
Kemi Badenoch stated scrapping taxes on vitality payments can be “a lot better” than providing focused assist to guard in opposition to an anticipated hike in prices.
Requested whether or not focused assist can be honest, the Tory chief stated: “Properly, what we see with focused assist is taxes on different individuals to pay for assist to others. That is Labour’s playbook.
“They preserve elevating taxes on everybody else to offer advantages. There’s a a lot better factor that they may do, which is to scrap the taxes on family vitality payments.
“These are the inexperienced taxes which Ed Miliband placed on all our vitality payments, each households and enterprise and trade.”
She added: “The opposite factor she may do is scrap her deliberate rise on gas obligation, which is coming in in a couple of months.
“It is utterly loopy to be growing gas obligation right now, and let’s drill our personal oil and fuel within the North Sea.”
Reform UK leads the newest YouGov ballot with 23%, with Labour second on 19%.
The Greens are third with 18% and the Tories one level behind on 17%, whereas the Lib Dems take 13%.
Newest YouGov Westminster voting intention, 22-23 March 2026
Reform UK: 23% (-2 from 15-16 Mar)
Labour: 19% (+2)
Greens: 18% (-1)
Conservatives: 17% (=)
Lib Dems: 14% (=) pic.twitter.com/JclCmF88XFu2014 YouGov (@YouGov) March 24, 2026
5 days in the past10:17 Aaron Newbury
Farage pledges to raise smoking ban
Reform UK chief Nigel Farage has pledged to scrap the generational smoking ban launched by Rishi Sunak branding it ‘Cromwellian’.
The rolling ban means anybody born after 2008 won’t ever be allowed to smoke, and will it come into power critics say it may result in a surge in black market smokes.
Writing within the Each day Telegraph Mr Farage in contrast the ban to these applied by Puritan chief, Oliver Cromwell, who as soon as banned Christmas meals.
5 days in the past09:28 Katie Harris
Cupboard minister dismisses calls for to rejoin EU
Britain shouldn’t be “plunging ourselves into a really lengthy, protracted debate” about rejoining the EU, the Enterprise and Commerce secretary has stated.
Peter Kyle’s intervention comes after calls for from senior Labour figures, together with London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
Mr Kyle instructed LBC: “I feel proper now we have now the coverage that’s proper for the second we’re in: make certain we have now the reset, that we discover all of the alternatives we have now with the EU, with the US, and in addition trying on the extra commerce offers we have got all over the world.
“Moderately than plunging ourselves into a really lengthy, protracted debate about rejoining we have to be taking a look at all the unbelievable alternatives there are on the market for partnerships all over the world, each multilaterally and bilaterally, country-to-country.”
Vitality Secretary Ed Miliband stated North Sea oil and fuel would play an essential function for many years to return.
However talking at a gathering of the Parliamentary Labour Social gathering yesterday, he added: “However anybody who tells you that new licences within the North Sea will make any distinction to cost isn’t telling you the reality.
“As a result of fuel is purchased and bought on the worldwide market and the value is ready there. Because the final authorities repeatedly admitted.”
5 days in the past08:06 Aaron Newbury
North Sea Oil ‘would normal £25 billion’
“There’s £25billion tax income we may very well be getting from the North Sea,” the Tories have stated – suggesting the Labour are selecting to lift it from taxpayers as a substitute.
Talking to GB Information this morning the shadow vitality secretary Claire Coutinho stated that drilling within the North Sea would elevate billions and imply decrease taxes for Britons.
5 days in the past07:53 Aaron Newbury
MPs will likely be compelled to vote on new Oil and Gasoline
MPs will likely be compelled to vote on new oil and fuel drilling within the North Sea because the Conservatives model the ban “sheer lunacy”.
The get together will right now desk a movement calling on the federal government to approve drilling within the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields.
Shadow vitality secretary Claire Coutinho stated the “onerous” ban have to be lifted, branding it “sheer lunacy” whereas the UK faces a provide disaster.
Oil and fuel costs have been pushed up in latest weeks as Iran has throttled key delivery routes by means of the Strait of Hormuz, with industrial vessels coming below assault within the area.
5 days in the past07:50 Aaron Newbury
Conservatives: ‘Authorities should not hit hard-press taxpayers’
The Conservatives would introduce an inexpensive energy plan which might see extra oil drilled within the North Sea, largely targeted on growing home provide to cut back abroad dependency. Claire Coutinho, the shadow vitality secretary, stated growing provide and bringing down prices should come first earlier than hitting “very arduous pressed” taxpayers.
She prompt that two home fuel fields may very well be up and operating “by christmas” and that the transfer was higher for the planet as it could imply oil and fuel may very well be used right here relatively than shipped in from different international locations.
Claire Coutinho (Picture: Getty) 5 days in the past07:42 Aaron Newbury
Reeves will make assertion to stipulate additional assist
Rachel Reeves will define extra details about how the Authorities will assist households, a Labour Minister has confirmed.
Michael Shanks, talking to the BBC, refused to touch upon future vitality costs caps or assist for impoverished households, and as a substitute prompt viewers ought to wait till the Chancellors assertion later within the day.
5 days in the past07:36 Aaron Newbury
Britons will have the ability to purchase the panels for a ‘few hundred kilos’
Grocery store purchased photo voltaic panels will save households cash annually, however will price a number of hundred kilos to purchase, Labour have confirmed.
Talking to the BBC, Michael Shanks, a authorities minister confirmed the transfer was being made “as a result of we would like it to be as straightforward as doable for households to get clear energy into their home.”
British drivers shouldn’t change their driving habits due to the warfare in Iran, an vitality minister has stated.
Michael Shanks, a Labour minister, was requested by Instances Radio if drivers ought to change their habits, by driving slower or refuelling otherwise, on account of the oil restrictions attributable to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
He instructed the broadcaster: “They need to do all the pieces as completely regular as a result of there isn’t any scarcity of gas anyplace within the nation in the intervening time. We monitor this each single day, I have a look at the numbers personally. There’s no subject in any respect with that.”
Mr Shanks added: “Individuals ought to go about their enterprise as regular. That’s what the RAC and the AA have stated. It’s actually essential individuals do this.
“There’s no scarcity of gas and all the pieces is working as regular.”
Requested immediately if drivers ought to sluggish their velocity, Mr Shanks replied: “Look genuinely, individuals shouldn’t change their behaviour or their habits within the slightest.”
5 days in the past07:26 Aaron Newbury
Britons will have the ability to purchase photo voltaic panels from Lidl
British owners will have the ability to purchase photo voltaic panels in retailers like Lidl from summer season this yr, Labour have introduced. Vitality Minister Michael Shanks confirmed that the transfer can be going forward, and prompt you’ll have the ability to plug them into your house and save on payments.
The newest politics information – straight from our workforce in Westminster and extra Subscribe Invalid e-mail
We use your sign-up to offer content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This will embrace adverts from us and third events based mostly on our understanding. You’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
5 days in the past07:24 Aaron Newbury
Labour: ‘Nothing is off desk’
“We now have left nothing off the desk,” a Labour Minister has stated . Responding to questions from journalists Vitality Minister
Michael Shanks instructed reporters that the federal government was taking motion to cease profiteering from suppliers, in addition to assist for these scuffling with their payments.
Focused assist will likely be supplied to these scuffling with probably the most, with £53million being supplied to assist these “households genuinely in want” however harassed that it was troublesome to stipulate future assist because of the volatility of the disaster.
Ed Miliband, the vitality secretary, will take questions from MPs following weeks of skyrocketing vitality costs.
The value spikes have been pushed by the warfare in Iran which led to the closure of the oil buying and selling route the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr Miliband has confronted mounting calls to permit for extra drilling within the North Sea to arrest Britain’s dependence on overseas oil
Leave a Reply