Starmer says ministers will consider ‘every lever possible’ to tackle cost of living – UK politics live
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Starmer says ministers will look at ‘every lever’ available to help people with cost of living at Cobra meeting on Iran war
Keir Starmer has said ministers will consider “every lever” available to them to help people with the cost of living when the Cobra emergency committee meets to discuss the war in Iran this afternoon.
Speaking to in a pooled TV interview while on a visit this morning, he said:
Cobra is the opportunity at the highest level to bring people together on matters of real, significant national importance.
Obviously Cobras are usually used for military considerations, consular considerations, but I think with the Iran war, most people are very concerned now, not only what they’re seeing on their screens in relation to the conflict itself, but also that question of: ‘How is it going to affect me and my family?’
And so today we’re looking at the economic impact, and I am asking for every lever that’s available to the government to deal with the cost of living to be discussed at Cobra.
Hence we’ve got the Bank of England and others there.
But I want to make sure that when it comes to the cost of living, we’re doing everything we possibly can at a very difficult period like this.
He also said he knew the cost of living was “the number one issue in the minds of people across the country”. He went on:
It’s really important for me to emphasise that this government always has the cost of living, centre of our mind when we’re making decisions,
Graeme Wearden has a good summary of this morning’s economic news on his business live blog.
Key events
Starmer condemns ‘horrific antisemitic attack’ on Jewish community ambulance service in London
Keir Starmer has described the arson attack on a Jewish community ambulance service in Golders Green, north London, as “horrific” antisemitism.
Asked about the attack, he told broadcasters:
This is a horrific antisemitic attack. And of course my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with those in the vicinity, the residents who are understandably very concerned, the Jewish community across the country deeply concerned.
I’ve already been in touch with community leaders this morning and will continue to do so during the day.
But antisemitism has no place in our society and it’s really important that we all stand together at a moment like this.
Here is Kevin Rawlinson’s story about the incident, which is being treated by the police as an antisemitic hate crime.
Starmer says there’s ‘no assesssment’ saying Iran targeting Britain with long-range missiles
Keir Starmer has also dismissed suggestions that people in Britain at risk from missiles fired from Iran.
At the weekend there was suggestion that the UK might be vulnerable after it emerged that Iran had fired two ballistic missiles at the UK/US military base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands.
Even though one missile was intercepted, and another fell short and did not reach its target, the attack generated concern because it had been assumed that Iran did not have long-range missiles with the capacity to reach London (2,700 miles from Tehran), let alone Diego Garcia (3,300 miles from Tehran).
Asked if Britain was within range of Iranian missiles, Starmer replied:
We carry out assessments all the time in order to keep us safe, and there’s no assessment that we’re being targeted in that way at all.
But of course, it’s my job to ensure that British interests, British lives are always uppermost in my mind.
What we need here is de-escalation, and that’s why we had a statement from a number of countries last week about what we need to do about the strait of Hormuz, which obviously needs careful coordination and a viable plan.
Asked specifically about the missiles aimed at the Chagos Islands, Starmer said these were “reckless acts by Iran against British interests” but that neither of them reached the target.
Starmer says ministers will look at ‘every lever’ available to help people with cost of living at Cobra meeting on Iran war
Keir Starmer has said ministers will consider “every lever” available to them to help people with the cost of living when the Cobra emergency committee meets to discuss the war in Iran this afternoon.
Speaking to in a pooled TV interview while on a visit this morning, he said:
Cobra is the opportunity at the highest level to bring people together on matters of real, significant national importance.
Obviously Cobras are usually used for military considerations, consular considerations, but I think with the Iran war, most people are very concerned now, not only what they’re seeing on their screens in relation to the conflict itself, but also that question of: ‘How is it going to affect me and my family?’
And so today we’re looking at the economic impact, and I am asking for every lever that’s available to the government to deal with the cost of living to be discussed at Cobra.
Hence we’ve got the Bank of England and others there.
But I want to make sure that when it comes to the cost of living, we’re doing everything we possibly can at a very difficult period like this.
He also said he knew the cost of living was “the number one issue in the minds of people across the country”. He went on:
It’s really important for me to emphasise that this government always has the cost of living, centre of our mind when we’re making decisions,
Graeme Wearden has a good summary of this morning’s economic news on his business live blog.
No 10 says Starmer had ‘constructive’ call with Trump after he shares TV sketch mocking PM as scared of him
Good morning. It is the last week the Commons is sitting before the Easter recess and, in normal circumstances, we would be focusing on domestic policy, and announcements coming out before the holiday period. But today, with the world focused on what will happen if Iran does not comply with the “deadline” set by Donald Trump for the opening of the strait of Hormuz tonight (he says he will “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if he does not get his way), foreign policy will dominate.
Starmer has two important meetings on the topic this afternoon. One of them will be live on TV, but unfortunately it will be the duller and less consequential one – his meetinng with the Commons liaison committee. After that he will chair a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee, where the government will be taking decisions about how it will respond to the possibility that the energy price crisis could get significantly worse. In a sign of how serious the economic consequences could get, Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, is attending.
Ultimately, what happens in the UK will largely be determined by what happens in Washington, and whether Trump decides to escalate or de-escalate, and, frankly, that is anyone’s guess. He implies one thing at one moment, and something completely different at another point. His defenders say he’s a brilliant exponent of the madman theory of diplomacy; the alternative view is that he is just mad.
Starmer actually spoke to him last night, and this is what a No 10 spokesperson said about the call after it was over.
The prime minister spoke to the president of the United States, Donald Trump, this evening.
The leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East, and in particular, the need to reopen the strait of Hormuz to resume global shipping.
They agreed that reopening the strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market.
They agreed to speak again soon.
Starmer has worked had to establish a cordial relationship with Trump. In line with almost every PM since the second world war, he has worked on the basis that being polite in public allows the UK to exercise influence on the administration in private. But Starmer spoke to Trump last night only hours after the president posted a clip on his Truth Social account of a sketch from Saturday Night Live UK brutally mocking the prime minister as someone scared of him. (You can watch it here, although I wouldn’t bother because, as comedy, it’s abysmal.)
And Starmer does not seem to be exerting much influence. The No 10 readout suggests that Starmer and Trump did not decide anything substantive; saying they agreeed that “reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market” is a bit like saying they agreed that night followed day.
But No 10 says the call was “constructive”. They say it lasted about 20 minutes.
Here is the agenda for the day.
Morning: Keir Starmer is on a visit in London where he will speak to broadcasters.
11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
2.30pm: Starmer gives evidence to the Commons liaision committee.
2.30pm: Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, takes questions in the Commons.
After 3.30pm: John Healey, the defence secretary, is expected to give a Commons statement on the war in Iran.
Afternoon: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in the east of England.
Afternoon: Starmer chairs a Cobra meeting
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