Comment: Fair support for Families Facing Rising Costs

The conflict in Iran has simmered out of President Trump’s control. A conflict that began without international support, without a coherent plan and without specified goals was always going to prove disastrous, something the Liberal Democrats, unlike Reform and the Conservatives, realised from the very start. The impact has been catastrophic for the Iranian people, who have now been threatened with war crimes by an unreliable, volatile, and unpredictable sitting US President. 

We are also now starting to see the impact at home, with soaring prices at the petrol pump and rising energy costs. This volatility has yet again exposed the UK to fluctuations in global energy prices. The impact on wholesale gas markets is affecting the price of fertiliser for our local farmers, and we will no doubt start to see the effect of rising costs in our supermarkets in the not-too-distant future. Given the cost-of-living crisis families are already dealing with, it is vital that the Government step up with emergency measures to support households across the UK. 

Jess Brown-Fuller calls for more support as the US–Iran war drives energy price rises.

 This is why last week the Liberal Democrats outlined a range of measures to support people across society, with a package totalling £2bn over three months. This money will come directly from the higher revenue the Treasury will receive from gas sales, the Energy Profits Levy, and road fuels VAT. 

Firstly, we want the Government to cut fuel duty by 10p, saving around 12p per litre at the pump for people up and down the UK. The rise in petrol prices has so far been the most damaging consequence of the conflict for UK residents, with tanks costing £11 more to fill with petrol and £23 more for diesel. It is completely unsustainable and unfair to expect families and businesses to bear this additional cost when many are already just making ends meet. 

We are also calling for support for public transport provision. It is clear that reliance on petrol and diesel vehicles has exposed many families to higher costs. If there were a reliable, cost-efficient public transport system, many would choose to use it. That is why we want the Government to slash all bus fares to £1 and cut all rail fares by 10%. This will allow people to save money and fuel, easing pressure across the board. 

These are common-sense policies, making the most of the increased revenue the Government is receiving in tax receipts from the conflict. They will not solve the cost-of-living crisis, but they will support businesses and families across the country who are in real need. I will continue to urge the Government to listen, alongside my Liberal Democrat colleagues.