UK steps up plans for potential shortages caused by Iran war

Negotiators from Iran were in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday for talks on ending the conflict.

Iran has responded by calling the blockade 'piracy'.

US President Donald Trump hopes to pressure Iran by targeting tolls through Hormuz and Iran's oil revenue.

Iran's top negotiator said reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible if the US continues their naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The Liberal Democrats urged the government to include a bill in the next King's Speech which puts food security at the top of the government's agenda, proposing a 10p cut on fuel duty and reduced public transport costs.

UK airlines have insisted they are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel as they buy it in advance and airports maintain stocks.

Supermarkets have said they are working with the government to help plan for a worst-case scenario.

The majority of the UK's CO2 is imported from Europe but it is often produced as a by-product when companies make fertiliser, which needs natural gas.

Darren Jones said shipments of jet fuel are continuing to arrive in the UK and the UK's critical supply of CO2 has been shored up.

The government has provided funding to reactivate the Ensus bioethanol plant, which makes CO2 as a by-product, to shore up supplies of the gas.

Twice weekly meetings of the contingency planning group of ministers are being led by Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister.

The government has been seeking to calm the public, urging drivers to keep filling up with petrol and using cars as usual and not to change travel plans amid fears over potential jet fuel shortages.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil prices soaring since the conflict began.

A group of ministers is meeting twice a week to monitor stock levels and any disruptions to the supply chain.

Sir Keir Starmer will chair another meeting of a Cabinet committee on Tuesday set up to deal with any shortfalls.

The government announces it is stepping up plans to offset potential food and fuel shortages caused by the Iran war.

The International Monetary Fund predicted the energy shock from the Iran war would hit the UK the hardest among advanced economies, cutting its growth forecast to 0.8% from 1.3%.

Earlier this month, government officials drew up a worst-case scenario of food shortages, including chicken and pork, by the summer if the war continues.

Last month, the National Farmers' Union said cucumber and tomato prices could rise over the next six weeks, with the cost of other crops and milk increasing in the next three to six months.