𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

In times of crisis, leaders need to turn to their best people. So while the Middle East erupts and the UK and the world are engulfed in a crippling energy nightmare, Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband have been sent out to bat for Britain.

Sir Keir Starmer had no choice – today’s emergency G7 meeting is for finance and energy ministers only. But here we have a Chancellor who is potentially in her last throws of the job, given the catastrophic handling of the UK economy. And then there’s Ed Miliband, whose ideological fanaticism about achieving net zero at all costs is choking Britain’s ability to weather the storm of the crisis. Not really two safe pairs of hands, are they?

The virtual meeting is happening roughly at the same time as the Prime Minister holds talks with leaders from the energy, shipping and financial services sectors in Downing Street to look at the potential economic damage and inflation pressures caused by the conflict.

One of the immediate cost impacts of the war in Britain has been the rising cost of fuel at the pumps, with petrol jumping above 150p a litre last week for the first time in almost two years.

Australia has joined a growing number of countries around the globe to step in and help its citizens with surging fuel costs.

The Pakistani government has even told people to stay at home and watch the cricket on the telly to help save fuel.

But Starmer, Reeves and Miliband seem to want to operate at snail’s pace, the message being keep calm and carry on.

It was a similar message from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who said at the weekend she had already booked her holiday – presumably a flight – for the Summer.

However, many Britons are thinking twice about whether they can afford it, especially with no signs that the Iran war will end soon.

Oil prices have risen again, remaining firmly at levels not seen since 2022 amid waning hopes of a quick resolution to the conflict, which has now entered its fifth week.

The cost of Brent crude lifted more than 3% to 117 US dollars a barrel at one stage this morning.

People want drastic action.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has urged the Government to scrap VAT on energy bills to save consumers £200 a year.

The Tory leader also wants to expand North Sea drilling for oil and gas and to drop Labour’s green taxes.

Yet Reeves and Miliband are expected to continue their go-slow approach, telling fellow G7 nations to follow the UK’s lead in the transition to renewable and nuclear power.

The Chancellor will make the case for stabilising energy markets and maintaining critical supply chains to drive global economic growth.

This is all very well in the very long term.

Britain cannot rely on importing its energy supply.

But what the public wants is immediate action to shield them from a looming big black cloud.