Alison Bennett's Monday Mail: War abroad, pressure at home

Over the past week, events on the world stage have once again shown how quickly global instability can hit close to home. The escalating conflict involving Iran is not only a serious international concern, but it is already feeding into rising energy prices and renewed pressure on household bills here in Mid Sussex. In this week’s newsletter, I want to set out my view on Britain’s role in the crisis, why diplomacy must come first, and what all of this means for the cost of living locally. 

War in Iran and Britain’s response

The conflict involving Iran is now in its fourth week, and developments remain deeply worrying. Any escalation risks not only devastating consequences for those directly affected, but wider instability across the region and beyond.

The Liberal Democrats have been clear since the start that the UK must avoid being drawn into another war in the Middle East. This is a conflict led by the United States whose strategy and long-term objectives are opaque, with a president who is, to put it mildly, inconsistent.

The United States remains a key ally, but that does not mean the UK should follow without question. We must take an independent view of what is in our national interest. I do not envy the position that Keir Starmer finds himself in, but he does have agency, and he must use it. He should work closely with our allies to push for de-escalation and uphold international law. Above all, diplomacy rather than military force must be the priority.

Reports on Friday suggested that the Prime Minister has agreed to the use of UK bases in ways that go beyond purely defensive purposes. Given the seriousness of this step, the Liberal Democrats believe Parliament must be given a vote on any such arrangements.

We must also be clear-eyed about the wider implications. Conflict in this region has a direct impact on global energy markets, security, and ultimately on households here at home. It is a reminder that events thousands of miles away can quickly affect us all.

The energy shock

This global uncertainty has many far-reaching consequences, but I know that many people here in Mid Sussex are most worried about the impact it will have on their bills.

Rising energy prices are once again a real concern. By way of example, around 5,000 households in Mid Sussex rely on heating oil, and unlike those on mains gas and electricity, they are not protected by the price cap set by Ofgem. That means they are more directly, and often more quickly exposed to sudden increases in global prices. For those connected to the grid, the situation is only partially and temporarily shielded, with changes to the price cap still feeding through over time.

Whilst we can only influence international events, we can do far more to protect people from their impact. If over previous decades there had been a serious programme to properly insulate homes so people aren’t paying to heat the street, and if we had moved faster to expand clean, home-grown renewable energy, the UK would not be as exposed as it is today to surging oil and gas prices.

When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began four years ago, this should have been an overdue wake up call. Yet in 2026, we once again risk seeing households bear the brunt of global energy shocks. Before I was an MP, I used to work on energy products designed to support people in fuel poverty, so I have seen first-hand the consequences of not being able to afford to switch the heating on, and the difference the right policies can make. We know what needs to be done, but it is about delivering it, and resisting calls to double down on fossil fuel extraction which will do little to bring down bills in a global market.

BBC Politics South East

Yesterday, I was on BBC Politics South East. We discussed support with bills, fostering, and the meningitis outbreak in Kent.

You can watch the programme on BBC iPlayer here:

Getting in touch

My parliamentary email address is: alison.bennett.mp@parliament.uk. If you need my help, please get in touch.

Best wishes,
Alison

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