International Update

Jim Dickson Excerpts

Monday 12th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)]

I remind Members that they need to speed up, please, because we are finishing this statement at around 5.30 pm.

[Jim Dickson (Dartford) (Lab)]

I congratulate the Prime Minister on the work that he is doing with allies to promote resolution to conflicts around the world, particularly in the middle east and Ukraine. Nevertheless, my constituents remain extremely anxious about the effect of the situation in the strait of Hormuz on their fuel bills, going into what will probably be a difficult winter. Can the Prime Minister provide reassurance that he will try to protect the most vulnerable from increases in energy bills going forward, and will also continue our acceleration away from dependence on fossil fuels and further towards renewables, so that we are less open to energy price shocks in the future?

[The Prime Minister]

I can assure my hon. Friend that reducing the cost of energy is a core priority of this Government, as I said at the conference in Liverpool just over a week ago. I have already removed VAT from electricity bills; there is more to come, and we will set that out soon.