Saudi East-West Oil Pipeline

Debate between Lord Hain and Baroness Antrobus

Thursday 17th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Antrobus) (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for his points and his questions. He will recognise that in talking about percentages of oil and gas coming from certain regions—he mentioned Saudi, obviously—we understand that our energy security in the UK is reliant, in a positive way, on a diverse range of supplies from around the world, including the Netherlands and the US, as he will well know.

On domestic bills, clearly, the Government review all the time the volatility that is happening as a result of not just those most recent attacks on the pipeline and facilities in Saudi Arabia but the wider issues across the Middle East and Iran, and in other areas of volatility. As a Government, we continue to review what we can do to help people but, as many will know, we are removing VAT on electricity bills from 1 October, which was recently announced. There are also other discounts to be made, with £150 off bills in the last Budget and, for those 6 million households most in need, the warm home discount, which I encourage noble Lords to ensure is widely communicated.

[Lord Hain (Lab)]

My Lords, this is my first opportunity to welcome my noble friend to the Benches. As a former wing commander, she adds real expertise and stature to the Labour Benches and indeed to the House. I welcome her response, but does this terrible attack on the pipeline not also indicate that the White House is responsible for terrible blunders of diplomacy in the Middle East? The Conservative leader asked us to back this; the consequences have been appalling, and the Government are now wrestling with that.

[Baroness Antrobus (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for his kind words—and it is lovely to be able to call him my noble friend. He refers to the action against Iran by the US and Israel combined. As he will know, our former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made an excellent judgment call in those early days, under a great deal of pressure from both outside groups and the Opposition. As a Member of this House and a former military officer, I commend the way he handled it.