Starmer signals support for household bills next winter amid energy price shock

PM indicates he would prefer to focus taxpayer-funded help on poorest households, rather than universal bailout

Ministers are looking at providing support for household bills next winter, Keir Starmer said, as he suggested the energy price shock unleashed by the Iran conflict could continue for months to come.

The prime minister indicated he would prefer to focus any taxpayer-funded help on the poorest households, rather than an expensive universal bailout, ahead of an emergency meeting on the economic fallout of the Middle East crisis.