SIR Keir Starmer will today chair cost-of-living crisis talks as the Iran war threatens prolonged economic misery in Britain.
The PM is expected to summon an emergency COBRA meeting to discuss options if the Strait of Hormuz remains shut for crucial oil and gas shipping supplies.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will be present.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey is also set to attend days after holding interest rates amid fears the conflict will spike inflation.
Ministers have already unveiled a package of support to help families who rely on heating oil which is not regulated by the energy price cap.
Yet there are growing concerns over driving costs if Iran continues to throttle global oil supplies.
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Kemi Badenoch will today warn that rural drivers will bear the brunt of a punishing rise in fuel duty.
The Tory leader ramped up demands on Sir Keir Starmer to axe September’s 5p hike in the motoring tax amid surging pump costs.
She said countryside communities with poor public transport links will be acutely exposed to higher prices – and on farmers who rely on red diesel.
Ms Badenoch slammed: “Just when the cost of fuel and other agricultural commodity prices are on the rise – they are set on pushing up taxes on red diesel. Farmers cannot afford to pay nearly ten per cent more tax on their fuel.
“Conservatives are calling on the Government to back farming and axe the fuel tax rise now. Rural communities rely on their cars so it’s time to end the war on motorists and get Britain working again.”
Labour is hiking fuel duty for the first time in 15 years by removing a 5p cut that was first introduced by Rishi Sunak.
Chancellor Reeves is maintaining the freeze in the headline rate following The Sun’s long-running Keep It Down campaign.
Sir Keir has vowed to keep the duty rise under review should the Middle East crisis continue to rage in September.
