Education Secretary Calms Fuel Panic
Britain’s Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has stepped in to calm nerves as petrol prices spike above 150p per litre. The hike follows Iran’s shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil route. Despite a 17p price jump since February, Phillipson urged drivers to keep refuelling as usual.
Speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, she said, “If you go to the pump, just fill up as normal, continue as you are.” Phillipson backed advice from groups like the RAC, which warned against panic buying.
Fuel Supply ‘Secure’ Despite Iran Tensions
The minister assured Britons that domestic fuel production remains steady and supply lines are secure. “We’ve got the security of what is coming in, and production isn’t affected,” she said. Phillipson insisted the government is prepared for any future disruptions: “We are well prepared.”
Political Pressure Mounts Over Fuel Duty
Opposition parties, including the Conservatives, Reform UK, and Liberal Democrats, have ramped up calls to scrap planned fuel duty hikes this September, blaming the Iran crisis for the urgent need.
Phillipson rejected the pleas, saying there is “no need” to act now and declined to commit to any decisions months ahead.
Kemi Badenoch Demands North Sea Boost
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch slammed rationing talks and urged the government to speed up North Sea oil and gas drilling. She insisted Shell’s Jackdaw gas field near Aberdeen will deliver “gas before winter.”
Badenoch also blasted Labour’s ban on new oil and gas licences introduced last year. “The right thing right now is not to bankrupt the country,” she said. “We need cheap, abundant energy, and that means all of it – nuclear, renewables, and oil and gas.”
