Starmer says ministers will consider ‘every lever possible’ to tackle cost of living – UK politics live

Key events9m agoStarmer says he does not want to see Type 31 frigate orders delayed16m agoStarmer says public should not be worried risk of missile attack, saying military doing 'very good job' protecting UK24m agoStarmer rejects claim UK not ready with military deployments when Iran war started28m agoRachel Reeves to make statement to MPs tomorrow about economic response to Iran war crisis, Starmer says30m agoStarmer says he does not 'meaningful concerns' about UK running short of energy supplies32m agoStarmer says No 10 planning on basis Iran war 'could go on for some time'35m agoStarmer says he was aware of US-Iran talks that led to Trump shelving bombing ultimatum38m agoStarmer says antisemitic arson attack an attack 'not just on Jewish community', but on everyone who values tolerance1h agoStarmer to face questions from Commons liaison committee1h agoBadenoch admits Tory 'lower taxes' pledge in local elections does not necessarily mean council tax cuts2h agoDefence secretary John Healey to make statement to MPs about Iran war2h agoNo 10 won't say if Starmer explicitly urged Trump to shelve his power plants bombing ultimatum to Iran2h agoNo 10 defends delay in disclosing Iranian missile attacks aimed at Diego Garcia in Chagos Islands3h agoNo 10 says 'productive talks' between US and Iran welcome in response to Trump suspending threat to bomb power plants3h agoNo 10 won't comment on Trump posting sketch mocking Starmer on social media, saying PM 'entirely focused on job'3h agoHousing minister said the government “will not accept profiteering” from energy companies4h agoMinister says there's 'huge differentiation' in petrol prices around country, implying some firms are profiteering4h agoTrump says he's postponing strikes on Iranian power plants for a five day period4h agoStreeting says government will fund replacement ambulances for those destroyed in antisemitic arson attack5h agoDfE says new school nurseries will cut childcare costs in poorest areas5h agoStarmer condemns 'horrific antisemitic attack' on Jewish community ambulance service in London5h agoStarmer says there's 'no assesssment' saying Iran targeting Britain with long-range missiles6h agoStarmer says ministers will look at 'every lever' available to help people with cost of living at Cobra meeting on Iran war6h agoNo 10 says Starmer had 'constructive' call with Trump after he shares TV sketch mocking PM as scared of himShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureQ: What are you doing on MoD recruitment?Starmer replies: double quotation markWe are turning around the recruitment, and we’re now recruiting at a higher rate than was previously the case, holding on to people and retaining people for longer. Starmer says he does not want to see Type 31 frigate orders delayedPatricia Ferguson goes next.Q: Are the reports true about Type 31 frigate orders being delayed?Starmer says he does not want delays. double quotation markAnd that’s why I’m insisting that there shouldn’t be any delays in the order. It’s really important that those orders continue in the way that is expected. Q: When will the defence investment plan be published?Starmer says the government is “working hard to finalise it”.Starmer says public should not be worried risk of missile attack, saying military doing 'very good job' protecting UKQ: “If Iran, or another adversary such as Russia were to launch ballistic missiles towards the UK, how would we defend ourselves?”Starmer says the government is continually monitoring the qualify of its air defence systems.Q: But we don’t have an equivalent of the Golden Dome air defence system.Starmer replies: double quotation markWe constantly assess this and we do have very effective ways of defending ourselves. And I don’t want to raise levels of public anxiety. They’re anxious about what they’re already seeing on their television screens. They’re anxious about the impact it will have on them, particularly economically in their households, and I don’t want to raise their levels of anxiety. I can tell you, our military personnel, our security and intelligence services are working literally 24 over seven to keep us safe and doing a very good job in that regard. Dhesi suggests the failure to deploy a ship ahead of the war started shows the armed force are “under-resourced and overstretched”.Starmer says that is a result of the inheritance he had from the Conservatives.Starmer accepts HMS Dragon was not in the theatre when the war started. But it normally takes six weeks to deploy, he said. He says the navy was able to get it ready to deploy within six days.Starmer rejects claim UK not ready with military deployments when Iran war startedTan Dhesi is asking the questions now.Q: Isn’t it embarrassing that we did not have a single navy asset in the area when the war started?Starmer does not accept Dhesi is right. He replies: double quotation markI don’t think that’s actually right. During January and February, we obviously could see the buildup. We were working very closely with the US on intelligence and therefore we pre-deployed quite a lot of assets to the region. Just to reassure you, radar systems were pre -eployed, counter drone systems were pre-deployed, F-35 jets were deployed in greater number than were already there. Ground based air defence was deployed. 400 extra UK personnel were deployed and autonomous mine hunting systems were deployed. Rachel Reeves to make statement to MPs tomorrow about economic response to Iran war crisis, Starmer saysStarmer says the govenrment has already made an announcement about heating oil.At Cobra today minister will look at what wider measures might be needed to deal with the economic consequences of the war.He says Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, will make a statement to MPs tomorrow about this.Starmer says he does not 'meaningful concerns' about UK running short of energy suppliesStarmer says the government does not have any “meaningful concerns” about energy supplies in the UK. double quotation markI can reassure the committee that we haven’t any meaningful concerns about energy supplies. Obviously, the price fluctuates daily for household energy bills. It is important for me to reiterate that they will be cut because of the measures we took in the budget last year and then held until the end of June. Starmer says No 10 planning on basis Iran war 'could go on for some time'Q: Should people be planning for disruption that might go on for months? Or can this conclude in days, as Trump suggests?Starmer jokes about not knowing how to answer that question, in a reference to Trump being unpredictable.He goes on to say the government is planning “on the basis that it could go on for some time”. double quotation markI’ve been really clear with the team that we mustn’t fall in to the false comfort of thinking that there will necessarily be a quick and early end to this. Starmer says he was aware of US-Iran talks that led to Trump shelving bombing ultimatumLiam Byrne asks the first set of questions.Q: How long do you think the Iran conflict will last?Starmer replies: double quotation markMy very strong view is we need to de-escalate and bring it into this conflict as swiftly as possible. And we’ve been working with another a number of countries, in that, regard. And to that end, I welcome, the talks, reported between the US and Iran. And to be clear with the committee, we, the UK, were aware that that was happening. And the immediate priority has to be a swift resolution of the conflict and deliver delivering a negotiated, agreement which puts tough conditions on Iran. Starmer says antisemitic arson attack an attack 'not just on Jewish community', but on everyone who values toleranceKeir Starmer starts with a comment about the attack on the Jewish ambulance service overnight.He says: double quotation markThe idea that ambulances could be considered a target is simply horrendous. And I know the impact that that will have had on so many individuals, not just those, in the area … The whole Jewish community, across the country, not least, because this is not an isolated incident and the rise of antisemitic hatred is there for all to see. He confirms that the government will replace the ambulances. He goes on: double quotation markThat is the right thing to do. But it also underscores what I think is a really important principle that this is not just an attack on the Jewish community, but it’s attack on all of us, on everyone who holds the fundamental British values of tolerance and respect. Starmer says he has also discussed this today with Sarah Sackman, the constituency MP, and with Jewish leaders.Meg Hillier, the committee chair, opens the session by saying that Emily Thornberry, the foreign affairs committee chair, is not here, even though the hearing will be mostly about foreign affairs, because she is on a long-planned trip with her committee to Greenland.