As expected, Starmer’s largely been asked about Iran war and knock-on impact in UKpublished at 15:48 GMT
Jack Fenwick
Political correspondent
The prime minister has confirmed that he’s looking at what support could be given to households after the current energy price cap expires in July.
He gave a clear indication that he would prefer that support to be targeted at the households that need it most, rather than the sort of universal support offered by former PM Liz Truss after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Keir Starmer also announced that he’s looking at giving the Competition and Markets Authority “further teeth” so it can better protect customers from being ripped off.
On the issue of the UK’s defensive readiness, he was given a tough time by two of the committee chairs.
Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin made an unfavourable comparison between Starmer and Winston Churchill, criticised him for being too slow to protect Cyprus from Iran and accused the prime minister of not being on a war-footing.
Labour MP Tan Dhesi, who chairs the Defence Committee, said the UK’s naval capabilities when the war broke out were embarrassing.
Starmer reiterated a point he’s previously made, that an increase in defence spending needs to happen “further and faster” – but said he couldn’t currently spell out how he would make that happen.
He also confirmed that the long-delayed defence investment plan – which is seen as vital to ensuring the UK can defend itself – is currently on his desk.
He said the delays were down to questions over how some of the plan would be funded, which he blamed on the previous Conservative government, but refused to say when the plan would be published.
