Starmer says government will step in if fuel companies rip off customers as trade body U-turns on decision not to meet Reeves – as it happened

<p>The prime minister issues the statement after a fuel trade body earlier withdrew from a meeting with the chancellor today</p><p>Even before <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/07/from-peace-president-to-operation-epic-fury-donald-trumps-road-to-war">Donald Trump’s Operation Epic Fury</a> on Iran unleashed higher oil prices, threatening the outlook for growth and inflation, the UK economy was flatlining.</p><p>That’s the bleak message in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/13/uk-economy-flatlined-january-iran-war-global-energy-prices-inflation">the latest data</a> from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which showed zero GDP growth in January.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/mar/13/reeves-vows-to-crack-down-on-energy-and-fuel-bosses-exploiting-britons-through-rip-off-prices-uk-politics-live">Continue reading...</a>