Petrol prices latest: Motorists hit by 23-year record over cost of diesel as Starmer prepares for emergency talks – UK Times

The prime minister is set to chair another Cobra meeting looking at the economic impacts of the Iran war this week, following a roundtable with energy bosses this afternoon.

Sir Keir Starmer will chair a Cobra meeting on Tuesday as the government grapples with the fallout of Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Asked about Monday’s meeting, Sir Keir said: “We are bringing together the shipping sector, insurance and energy, because obviously that’s a focus of concern.“A lot of discussion about the Strait of Hormuz and what we can do to get the straits open, which is the single most effective way to bring energy prices down.

He added: “I will have a Cobra tomorrow, another Cobra, to look at the economic impacts of the war and making sure that everything that we need to have in place, everything is monitored and audited properly.”

As we’ve been reporting, data from the RAC has showed the price difference between petrol and diesel is at its highest since at least 2003.

Latest DVLA figures show there were 16.2 million diesel vehicles licensed in the UK as of the end of September last year.

This included the vast majority of light goods vehicles, such as vans.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Diesel is the lifeblood of millions of small businesses, but today white van man is bleeding cash just to stay on the road.

“Whether you drive or not, soaring diesel prices will take money out of your pocket, either at the pump or in the bills you pay for everything from calling out the plumber to getting a home delivery.

“If oil prices remain at this level the impact on the forecourt could be felt for weeks, if not months.

“That’s bad news for everyone, not just drivers of the UK’s 4.6 million diesel vans, the majority of which will be used for work purposes.”

Sir Keir Starmer soughts to discredit his opponents on both the left and right on Monday, as he fights to win over voters ahead of crunch local elections.

Launching his party’s campaign ahead of the contest on May 7, the prime minister took aim at Kemi Badenoch’s and Zack Polanski’s approach to the outbreak of war in Iran.

He says Mrs Badenoch and Nigel Farage wanted to “go straight in with both feet”, proving their “terrible judgement”.Turning to the Greens, he says a government ran by Mr Polanski would leave Britain “weak and exposed”.

Sir Keir Starmer talks up “Labour values” and hits out at those who would use the conflict in Iran to “whip up even more division” in the UK.

He touts the government’s policies as showing it is an administration that “bears down on the cost of living”.

He says: “Some will use, sadly, the conflict in Iran to whip up even more division in our country and our society.

“If you can believe it, they barely need a reason. We saw Nick Timothy at it last week complaining about Muslims praying in public.

“We see so many examples, but people will use this to try and tear the country further apart.

“It’s really important that we assert our Labour values here, as we go into campaign, our Labour values about how we bring people together, how we understand the importance of place and the pride that people put in the place that they come from.”

Sir Keir Starmer criticises the Green Party and its leader Zack Polanski as he says Britain would be “weak and exposed” if he, Nigel Farage or Kemi Badenoch was in government.

He says: “Then you’ve got Polanski. He thinks that with a war on two fronts, now is the time to give up our Nato membership, now is the time to start negotiating with Putin over our nuclear deterrent.

“We’d be left so weak and so exposed if any of those individuals were in government, and it’s really important therefore that we stick to our principles, stick to our values and show the leadership that’s needed in a time like this.”

The UK would “be in a war with no plan” if the Conservative or Reform UK leaders were in charge, Sir Keir Starmer claims

Referring to the conflict in the Middle East, he says: “This is not our war and we are not going to be dragged into it.

“Yes, of course, we will defend British lives and British interests in the region, will stand by our allies in the Gulf region, but we’re not going to get dragged in.”

Sir Keir also says: “What a contrast if you took Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage. What did they want to do?

“They wanted to go straight in with both feet into the war without thinking through the consequences.

“Now, they’re in opposition, maybe that doesn’t matter very much, but it’s terrible judgment, because taking your country to war is the single most important decision a prime minister can ever take, and if they had been in Government, we’d be in a war with no plan.”

Sir Keir Starmer has kicked off his local election campaign by once again declaring he will ensure Britain is not “dragged into” Donald Trump’s war on Iran.

Speaking at a launch event in Wolverhapmton, he described the backdrop to the May 7 elections as “uncertain”.

“People look at their screens and they worry when they’re looking at explosions, infrastructure blown up, and the rhetoric that goes with it. Worried about if this is going to escalate even further.”

He added: “It’s really important that I reiterate where I stand and where this government stands, because this is not our war and we are not going to be dragged into it….that’s my values, that’s my principles and that’s what we’ve applied to our decisions whatever the pressure and whoever its coming from.”

Sir Keir Starmer is about to kick off Labour’s make-or-break local election campaign as he seeks to rally voters, and his own party behind him.

Labour is bracing for heavy losses at the polls this spring as the party continues to lose voters to both Reform on the right and the Greens to the left, in a blow which could spell the end of Sir Keir’s leadership.

The prime minister is at a launch event in Wolverhampton this morning, speaking to an audience full of his cabinet colleagues in a show of support.

Speaking ahead of the prime minister, Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell praised Sir Keir, said she was “immensely proud” of Sir Keir and his decision “not to follow blindly” into Donald Trump’s war on Iran.

The price difference between diesel and petrol has reached the highest level since at least 2003 as the Iran oil crisis deepens, new figures show.

Latest data from motoring services company the RAC shows the average price of a litre of diesel at UK forecourts rose to 179.9p on Sunday, 28.5p more than petrol (151.4p).

UK oil refineries are more geared towards producing petrol than diesel, so the country’s supply of the latter is more reliant on imports.

Oil prices – which have a significant effect on the cost of wholesale fuel – have soared in response to Iran’s stranglehold on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, sparking rising pump prices.

Motoring research charity the RAC Foundation warned it is the biggest price disparity between diesel and petrol since at least 2003, and possibly ever.

Latest DVLA figures show there were 16.2 million diesel vehicles licensed in the UK as of the end of September last year.