Filling up has rarely been so expensive – from petrol and diesel on the forecourt, to the heating oil so many of my constituents rely on to stay warm, recent weeks have seen a very sharp rise in prices. I know that this is challenging for everyone – and the impact goes well beyond the price of day to day fuels. Inevitably, the rip tide of energy that we are seeing will impact more widely.
So what on earth can be done? When it comes to action, I like to view the potential response through the ‘triple whammy’ of - food security; energy security; and particularly in my role as Shadow Defence Secretary, national security.
Taking them in reverse, when it comes to national security, it is extraordinary that – at a time of war on two fronts – Kier Starmer’s blueprint for our armed forces, known as the ‘Defence Investment Plan’ (DIP), is months overdue. Promised in Parliament for last autumn, and then by the end of last year, the DIP is clearly caught in a row between the MoD and HMT on how to fund Labour’s promises.
We all have to understand that we cannot get out of our current difficulties without some difficult decisions, and the problem with the DIP is that Starmer has spent the money on welfare that should have gone on Defence. Whereas, Kemi Badenoch has been the only party leader to consistently oppose abolition of the two-child benefit cap – and on a visit to a factory making armoured vehicles for the British army, we recently confirmed that savings from this difficult but necessary decision would go on our armed forces. That’s how we unlock the money we need to keep us safe, and Starmer needs to follow suit, so that he can publish the overdue DIP and get our country rearming to stand strong in the world.
Yet it’s on the second of these critical policy priorities - energy security - where I think we have literally the singularly worst example of Labour policy. At a time of oil and gas shortages, it is officially Starmer’s policy to stop new drilling in the North Sea. The upshot? We are importing oil and gas from Norway, that they have drilled from a basin we are denying ourselves access to. This is madness.
Given my belief that energy security is paramount, I back low emission energy – not just offshore wind, but nuclear too. We need it all. But we also need oil and gas, and will do so for years to come. The Prime Minister should immediately introduce emergency legislation to allow new drilling in the North Sea, supporting jobs in our country instead of importing from abroad.
While he’s about it, given that Suffolk is a predominately rural constituency, whereby having a car is not a luxury, I also believe Rachel Reeves should scrap the 5p increase in Fuel Duty planned for September. People may criticise our record, but the fact is that in Government we found the cash to freeze fuel duty for every one of the fourteen years we were in charge.
On the third policy priority - food security - increases in fuel costs are also hitting our farmers, with red diesel prices up by almost 60% in just a few weeks. In addition, disruption to cargo lanes in the Strait of Hormuz is creating huge pressures on the price of UK fertiliser supplies. For our farmers, who are now well underway spreading fertiliser and spring drilling, this unexpected price increase in red diesel, along with fertiliser shortages, will have a detrimental impact on their running costs and highlights just how vulnerable our food producers are to global market fluctuations.
Finally, what does this mean for our economic security? For me, a focus on tackling unemployment remains at the heart of any plan to protect prosperity. That’s why I’ll be holding my next Jobs Fair on Friday the 10th April 10am – 12 at the Stevenson Centre in Great Cornard.
There will be a wide range of exhibitors including employers of every size – from Sizewell nuclear power station to small local businesses; but there will also be plenty of wider support on offer from those who provide training and careers’ guidance. Previous fairs have resulted in real-life success stories with people securing their dream job so I very much hope this event will once again provide a valuable opportunity for residents to connect with employers, learn more about local opportunities available, and explore different career paths.
Let’s be frank – these are really challenging times. Nevertheless, our county has many strengths, and its businesses and farmers who remain central to our collective prosperity. I will be doing everything I can to support them.
Published in the East Anglian Daily Times.
