Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols shares her views on energy security.
The United States and Israel’s attack on Iran has sparked wider conflict in the Middle East, creating further uncertainty and threatening both trade routes and global energy supplies.
We are in a serious time as world markets react to this instability and the economic effects that are coming from it.
I am glad that the UK has not joined in this war as the Conservatives and Reform parties urged – that would have been disastrous.
This is not our fight and we should not be part of the killing of Iranian civilians, at great expense and putting the lives of our own armed forces at risk.
I want to see this unwanted war brought to an end as soon as possible and peace and stability brought to the whole troubled region, but that is not in the hands of the United Kingdom to bring about.
So we must endure the consequences of the conflict pursued by others as the economic impacts affect everyone.
And in particular, we must try to soften the increasing cost of living for those most struggling in our country.
The government has already been committed to reducing energy costs, and typical household energy bills are set to fall by 7 per cent next month when the new cap comes into place.
There is an additional £53 million to help people using heating oil to heat their homes and the government has brought in new powers to stop price gouging at this critical time.
I would expect further measures to come, and there are efforts to reduce food prices from Europe.
I know that there is great concern about this war and I am urging the government to do all it can to reduce the impact on the British people.
This all underlines the importance of energy security and reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels.
I am glad that after many years of Tory neglect the government has a serious nuclear strategy, which I have been calling for as chair of Parliament’s Nuclear Group.
Our long-term plan must be a mix of domestically-produced nuclear and renewables to remove us from the shock of global events, and action now must make up for the lost years of neglect.
It is likely that this war will lead to prices rising, and so our priorities must be to protect the public, especially those most in need, while investing to protect us all in future.
These are difficult times but those principles are clear.
