Starmer vows to crack down on 'profiteering' from fuel crisis

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to crack down on those companies in Northern Ireland "profiteering" from the fuel crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East.

The prime minister was speaking during a visit to Northern Ireland where he is due to hold talks with party leaders and also visit a community centre.

He said the government will not hesitate to act if companies "fleece customers or rip them off" with "unfair" heating oil prices.

Recognising the majority of households in Northern Ireland rely on heating oil, the prime minister said prices must be "fair transparent and justifiable and not inflated at the expense of working people".

Almost two-thirds of homes (62.5%) in Northern Ireland use oil for heating, the highest proportion among UK nations. Industry data suggests prices have more than doubled since the US attack on Iran.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will be be engaging with "suppliers and intermediaries" to see whether there are "consumer protection law concerns".

It said it would look specifically at whether existing oil orders were being cancelled, with customers then offered new quotes at higher prices.

"If companies hike prices without justification the government will act," Sir Keir said.

"Global instability has real impacts on the lives of working people across the UK, and I know families in Northern Ireland are worried about what the war in the Middle East could mean for their finances.

"Let me be clear we will not tolerate profiteering or unfair practices. If companies fleece customers or rip them off we will not hesitate to step in."

Sir Keir arrived in Northern Ireland on Wednesday night and attended a British-Irish gathering at a Belfast hotel.

Addressing the invited guests he talked about the importance of resetting the relationship with Dublin.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir hopes to meet the people in Belfast "whose lives are shaped by conflicts abroad and the approach we take at home".

He said the government had already asked the CMA "to look urgently at extortionate prices".

But the prime minister is expected to come under pressure from the local party leaders to provide more financial support for families struggling with their energy bills.

Afterwards some of the MPs said they were disappointed with the lack of a commitment to provide practical help.