The Green MP said witnessing PMQs in person made her feel the culture of Westminster needs to change
New Green MP Hannah Spencer has branded Prime Minister’s Questions a ‘pantomime’ after her first two weeks in Westminster. The Gorton and Denton representative said the ‘facade’ and ‘theatrics’ of the weekly debates are ‘worse than I was expecting’.
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The MP criticised what she described as politicians trading ‘pre-prepared insults’ during the Commons session. She said the spectacle risks wasting politicians’ time that Ms Spencer argues should be focused on improving people’s lives.
PMQs is a 30-minute weekly session in the House of Commons where the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs. While designed to hold the government to account, it is often characterised by loud exchanges and jeering during debate.
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Ms Spencer made the comments during an interview with the Manchester Evening News on Friday (March 13) as the new MP was visiting a community food club in Gorton run by The Bread and Butter Thing.
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Reflecting on her first fortnight in Parliament, she said one of the biggest surprises had been witnessing the weekly Commons clash in person. Ms Spencer said she had expected the confrontational atmosphere but found it more ‘theatrical’ than she anticipated.
“A lot of us see Prime Minister’s Questions and the pantomime of it all,” she said. “That’s why people are so fed up, because it’s just the worst use of anyone’s time to listen to people come up with pre-prepared insults.”
“Even though I knew what it was going to be like, I think it’s actually worse than I was expecting,” she added. “That whole facade that people put on, this theatre of playing a certain way.”
Ms Spencer said MPs should focus on the reason they were elected to Parliament, adding that the Commons should be a place where politicians work together to improve people’s lives.
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“That’s not what we’re there for,” she said. “We’re there because people have elected us to do the things that we told them.”
The Green MP said witnessing PMQs and speeches in the Commons in person made her feel the culture of Westminster needs to change.
“When I saw it with my eyes, I was like, this has got to change,” she said. “Some of the daft stuff like that, that I think people are clearly fed up with.”
Spencer argued that politicians could challenge each other’s policies without resorting to personal attacks. She said debates should focus on holding governments to account rather than trading insults.
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“You can challenge each other’s policies…without that,” she said. “It’s really hard to describe, because I wish everyone could go in and see that.”
The MP said she believes the political system is already beginning to shift following her recent by-election win.
“I do think now politicians are going to have to start changing how they do things to become in line with how the rest of us live,” she added.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration this week stepped up its ambitious effort to replace about $1.6 trillion in lost tariff revenue that was eliminated by the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a range of the president’s import taxes.
Recovering that lost revenue, which the White House was counting on to help offset the steep, multi-trillion dollar cost of its tax cuts, is possible but will be challenging, experts say. The administration has to use different legal provisions to impose new duties, and those provisions require longer, complex processes that U.S. companies can use to seek exemptions. It could be months or more before it is clear how much revenue the replacement tariffs will yield.
“I wouldn’t bet against this administration being able to get back on paper the same effective tariff rate they had before,” said Elena Patel, co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. But the new approach will “make it easier for people to contest the tariffs, which is going to put a big asterisk on the revenue until all that is settled.”
On Wednesday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration will investigate 16 economies — including the European Union — over whether their governments are subsidizing excessive factory capacity in a way that disadvantages U.S. manufacturing. The investigation will also cover China, South Korea, and Japan, Greer said.
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In addition, he said there would be a second investigation of dozens of countries to see if their failure to ban goods made by forced labor amounts to an unfair trade practice that harms the United States. That investigation will also cover the EU and China, as well as Mexico, Canada, Australia, and Brazil.
Both investigations are being conducted under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, which requires the administration to consult with the targeted countries, as well as hold public hearings and allow affected U.S. industries to comment. A hearing as part of the factory capacity investigation will be held May 5, while a hearing on the forced labor investigation will occur April 28.
It’s a far cry from the emergency law that President Donald Trump relied on in his first year in office, which allowed him to immediately impose tariffs on any country, at nearly any level, simply by issuing an executive order.
Moments after the Supreme Court’s ruling, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all imports under a separate legal authority, but that duty can only last for 150 days. The president has said he would raise it to 15%, the maximum allowed, but has yet to do so. Some two dozen states have already challenged the new tariffs. The administration is aiming to complete its Section 301 investigations before the 10% duties expire.
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The effort underscores the importance that the Trump White House has placed on tariffs as a revenue-raiser at a time when the federal government is facing huge annual budget deficits for decades into the future. Previous administrations, by contrast, used tariffs more sparingly to narrowly protect specific industries.
Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation, noted that the first investigation covers roughly 70% of imports, while the second would cover nearly all of them.
“That breadth suggests the goal isn’t to address the issues at hand, but instead to recreate a sweeping tariff tool,” she said.
Trump sees tariffs as a way to force foreign countries to essentially help pay the cost of U.S. government services, even though all recent economic studies find that American companies and consumers are paying the duties, including ones from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and economists at Harvard University. In his state of the union address last month, Trump even touted his tariffs as a potential replacement for the income tax, which would return the United States’ tax regime to the late 19th century.
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Trump also wants tariffs to help pay for the tax cuts he extended in key legislation last year. The tax cut legislation is expected, according to the most recent estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, to add $4.7 trillion to the national debt over a decade, while all Trump’s duties, including ones not struck down by the court, were projected to offset about $3 trillion — or two-thirds of that cost.
The court’s ruling Feb. 20 that he could no longer impose emergency tariffs eliminated about $1.6 trillion in expected revenue over the next decade, according to the CBO.
Some of Trump’s tariffs remain place, including previous duties on China and Canada that were imposed after earlier 301 investigations. The administration has also slapped tariffs on some specific products, including steel, lumber, and cars. Those, combined with the 10% tariff for part of this year, should yield about $668 billion over the next decade, the Tax Foundation estimates.
“It’s going to take a really big patchwork of these other investigations to make up for the (lost) tariffs,” York said.
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The administration’s efforts are also unusual because they reflect an overreliance on tariffs to bring in more government revenue. Trump has also said the duties are intended to return manufacturing to the United States, and he has used them to leverage trade deals.
“What makes this really different,” said Kent Smetters, executive director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, “it is really the first time tariffs have been mainly used as a revenue raiser.”
Patel, meanwhile, argues that raising revenue can be done more reliably and straightforwardly by Congress. Laws like Section 301 are traditionally intended to be used to address specific trade policy concerns in particular countries.
“It’s not supposed to be there to raise revenue,” she said. “If we want to raise revenue through tariffs, then Congress should impose a broad based tariff.”
Into the first of five added minutes in this first half.
We have an explanation of the Havertz penalty decision from the ‘Premier League Match Centre’ too:
“The referee’s call of no penalty to Arsenal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact from Keane on Havertz deemed to be minimal.”
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(Getty Images)
Chris Wilson14 March 2026 18:17
Arsenal 0-0 Everton
An Arsenal corner produces another promising delivery but this one is knocked down to Saka, who can’t get the effort away before Madueke is then closed down.
Eze has space for the shot but it’s a wild one.
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Chris Wilson14 March 2026 18:15
Arsenal 0-0 Everton
Raya flaps at the ball in but just about gets enough on it to punch it away. However, he’s accidentally punched Saliba in the face on ther way in, so the Frenchman is down receiving treatment.
Chris Wilson14 March 2026 18:13
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Arsenal 0-0 Everton
A bit of frustration creeping in for the hosts as Rice brings down McNeil around 30 yards out.
Chris Wilson14 March 2026 18:11
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Arsenal 0-0 Everton
CLOSE! Almost off the line from the corner after another great delivery from Saka.
Calafiori gets the flick-on at the near post but Keane is there to head away.
Chris Wilson14 March 2026 18:10
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Arsenal 0-0 Everton
Arsenal are certainly in the ascendancy once again here, as Saka does brilliantly to weave in between two defenders before winning a corner.
Worries for the hosts here though, as Jurrien Timber is replaced by Cristhian Mosquera. The Dutchman was unable to shake off a knock from earlier on.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Chris Wilson14 March 2026 18:08
Arsenal 0-0 Everton
For Rice, it’s a similar distance to where he scored those free-kicks against Real Madrid from.
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However, the angle is against him this time and his effort cannons into the wall.
Chris Wilson14 March 2026 18:07
Arsenal 0-0 Everton
Free-kick in a dangerous area for Arsenal as Saka has his legs wiped out from underneath him by Gueye.
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Eze and Rice lining this one up from 25 yards…
(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Chris Wilson14 March 2026 18:05
Arsenal 0-0 Everton
Another decent chance for Everton, who have created a decent amount in the final third.
This chance sees space open up for Dewsbury-Hall on the edge of the box, but Raya is equal to his low effort.
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Chris Wilson14 March 2026 18:02
Arsenal 0-0 Everton
Unlucky for Arsenal as Rice is originally fouled before the ref plays advantage and it works against him. There was a great challenge in the box in there from Garner though.
Fuel prices have risen sharply following the war in Iran
Petrol prices in the UK have now shot up by over 10p a litre since the start of the Iran war, according to the latest figures released on Friday afternoon (March 13), showing no let-up in the alarming spike in the cost of fuel.
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Retailer data published by the government reveals the average price a litre of unleaded petrol passed the 140p mark on March 13 – but the impact on fuel costs depends largely on which area of the UK you are filling up your car.
In two areas of the country – Cherwell and Great Yarmouth – motorists are paying more than 12p a litre extra for a litre of unleaded compared with the price a week before the US and Israel started bombarding Iran.
But in other places such as Dover, Slough, Elmbridge and the Scottish Borders, the price has gone up by less than 6p on average.
Our interactive map shows the latest average price for a litre of unleaded petrol in every area of the UK reported by retailers on Thursday (March 12) – and also how much it has increased since a week before the conflict began on February 29.
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In Cambridgeshire, Cambridge has been named among the 20 most expensive places to buy petrol. The price of petrol is currently sitting at 143.2p, an increase of 6.5p per litre since the start of the Iran war. Motorists in North Warwickshire are facing the highest prices at the pumps, with average prices just short of the 145p mark for E10 unleaded. In more than 130 local authority districts, the average price has gone over 140p.
The 20 most expensive areas to buy petrol are (excluding motorway service stations):
North Warwickshire – 144.9p. Up 9.0p per litre
Westminster – 144.1p. Up 6.5p per litre
Breckland – 143.7p. Up 8.6p per litre
Wyre Forest – 143.7p. Up 7.1p per litre
Harlow – 143.6p. Up 7.8p per litre
Fareham – 143.4p. Up 8.7p per litre
Cheshire East – 143.2p. Up 8.9p per litre
Cambridge – 143.2p. Up 6.5p per litre
West Lancashire – 143.1p. Up 8.8p per litre
Epping Forest – 143.1p. Up 8.2p per litre
Sevenoaks – 142.9p. Up 8.3p per litre
Rochford – 142.9p. Up 8.0p per litre
Brentwood – 142.9p. Up 7.0p per litre
Windsor and Maidenhead – 142.8p. Up 9.0p per litre
North Hertfordshire – 142.8p. Up 7.0p per litre
Wychavon – 142.7p. Up 9.6p per litre
Tandridge – 142.6p. Up 7.0p per litre
Ashford – 142.5p. Up 6.6p per litre
Chichester – 142.4p. Up 8.0p per litre
West Lothian – 142.4p. Up 8.0p per litre
You can find the cheapest petrol prices near you by searching for your postcode in this interactive:
It is estimated that the Iran war is set to cost UK motorists £15m a day in extra fuel costs as prices continue to spike upwards at petrol forecourts around the country.
The impact of the price hikes means that the average cost of all the fuel bought each day in the UK is already costing motorists £12.9m more than it did before the Iran war began on February 28, and that figure is set to pass £15m on current trends.
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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has put fuel retailers “on notice” that it is stepping up monitoring of petrol and diesel prices in light of the Middle East conflict.
The CMA’s executive director for markets, Juliette Enser, said: “Whilst price increases might be inevitable because of rising wholesale costs, it is important that those increases reflect genuine cost pressures. We will be closely scrutinising and reporting on what’s happening with fuel prices and call out any concerning behaviour.”
Among the major retailers, Asda Express is charging the highest average price for unleaded petrol. The firm, which operates Asda service stations rather than supermarket forecourts, has an average price of 142.9p per litre – which is 12.1 p more than before the Iran war.
Esso, BP, Shell, Murco and Texaco are all charging motorists an average of over 140p a litre at their petrol stations. Of the big four supermarkets, Tesco is charging the highest price at 138.2p a litre, slightly more than Morrisons (137.7p), Sainsbury’s (137.6p) and Asda (137.1p).
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A petrol industry trade group pulled out of a meeting with Chancellor Rachel Reeves after accusing minister of using “inflammatory language” that has led to abuse against forecourt workers.
The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) said executive director Gordon Balmer had been invited to take part in the Downing Street meeting with Ms Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on fuel prices, which was set to take place later on Friday (March 13).
But it said Mr Balmer had withdrawn over concerns that recent language being used by ministers was inciting abuse against fuel retail staff by members of the public.
The PRA said “following several days in which ministers have suggested that forecourts may be ‘price gouging’ and ‘ripping off’ the motorist”, it had looked to get assurances from Ms Reeves’s office that the meeting would be held in private, but that this was not provided.
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The PRA said it made the decision not to attend the meeting to “protect retail staff”.
On Thursday, the Competition and Markets Authority warned it was putting fuel retailers “on notice” of plans to step up monitoring of petrol and diesel prices in light of the Middle East uncertainty.
51 mins: Italy opt to kick a penalty to the corner and drive over with hooker Tommaso Di Bartolomeo touching down for the try.
Wales’ replacement tighthead Archie Griffin receives a yellow card, meaning any upcoming scrums would leave Wales down to 13 players if uncontested.
Garbisi adds the conversion.
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Ciara Fearn14 March 2026 17:58
Drop-goal: Wales 31-0 Italy
48 mins: Italy clear the ball, but Dan Edwards collects it, composes himself and slots a 40m drop goal.
Ciara Fearn14 March 2026 17:53
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Wales 28-0 Italy
47 mins: Wales are defending brilliantly and Tandy will be keen for them to stay resolute.
After a strong set, they force a turnover and flanker Mann kicks, but the ball goes over the line, resulting in a goalline drop-out for Italy.
Ciara Fearn14 March 2026 17:52
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Wales 28-0 Italy
45 mins: Dewi Lake comes off with Ryan Elias taking his place.
The Ospreys hooker put in a huge effort, powering through multiple carries in the lead-up to that try.
Ciara Fearn14 March 2026 17:49
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TRY! Wales (Edwards) 28-0 Italy
43 mins: Wales are immediately back on the attack with Mee continuing his impressive work with some quick footwork.
Josh Adams joins the action as Wales apply pressure just outside the 22.
Strong carries from the forwards with Dewi Lake heavily involved, push them to within 10 metres of the line.
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With support out wide, Edwards sprints over to score.
Ciara Fearn14 March 2026 17:48
Kick-off! Wales 21-0 Italy
41 mins: The teams have returned to the field and Dan Edwards restarts the action.
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Ciara Fearn14 March 2026 17:44
Half-time! Wales 21-0 Italy
That’s the end of a brilliant first half for Wales, who are well-placed to finally end their 15-game Six Nations losing run.
Two tries from Aaron Wainwright and one from captain Dewi Lake have given Steve Tandy’s side firm control of the game.
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(AFP via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(David Davies/PA Wire)
Ciara Fearn14 March 2026 17:30
Wales 21-0 Italy
40 mins: Wainwright and Botham make powerful carries inside the 22, driving Wales to within five metres, but Italy hold firm with a choke tackle.
The half ends with a scrum – Italy will likely opt not to play out from this position.
Ciara Fearn14 March 2026 17:27
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Wales 21-0 Italy
38 mins: Another key moment for Wales as Rhys Carre secures the ball while Lorenzo Pani attempted to break from his own half.
There’s a slight touch to the ground, but the prop escapes any sanction and Wales head into the break looking to chase their bonus point.
Ciara Fearn14 March 2026 17:26
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Wales 21-0 Italy
37 mins: Wales make a change at tighthead prop with Tomas Francis coming off and Archie Griffin stepping on. Wales suffer an issue as Eddie James knocks on following a promising strike from a scrum.
Italy kick the ball downfield, but Josh Adams calmly clears it.
Police arrested the suspect after a report of a burglary in progress was received
Rob Currell Live news reporter
17:16, 14 Mar 2026
Police in Newry have arrested a 47-year-old man at a property following a reported burglary which took place in Cloghoge yesterday, Friday, March 13.
The suspect is due to appear before Newry Magistrates’ Court on Monday, March 16 with police advising that as is usual procedure, the charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.
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Inspector Reynolds from the force said: “We received a report of a burglary in progress in the Chancellor’s Road area just after 10am.
“The resident of the property and a relative had detained a man suspected of entering the property while it was unoccupied. When the man was confronted, a struggle ensued which led to the relative sustaining a number of injuries. Thankfully, at this time, these are not thought to be life-threatening. “A number of items were reported missing and later located nearby, and substantial damage had been caused to an outhouse building. “The man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and grievous bodily harm, and remains in custody at this time. We would appeal to anyone with information, who may have seen a man behaving suspiciously in the area on Thursday night or Friday morning, to contact police. We would be particularly keen to hear from anyone with relevant CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage.“The number to call is 101, quoting reference 381 of 13/03/26. You can also report online here, or by contacting Crimestoppers with 100% anonymity on 0800 555 111 or online.”For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
Construction is finished on a major Massachusetts offshore wind farm, the first project to reach this stage during President Donald Trump’s time in office.
Offshore construction was completed Friday night on Vineyard Wind with the installation of the final blades, Craig Gilvarg, a spokesperson for the project, said Saturday.
While Revolution Wind just began delivering power, Vineyard Wind has been doing so for over a year as more turbines were finished. Vineyard Wind is a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, located 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Massachusetts. It has 62 turbines that will generate a total of 800 megawatts. That is enough clean electricity to power about 400,000 homes.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has said the completion of this project is essential to ensuring the state can lower costs, meet rising energy demand, advance its climate goals and sustain thousands of good-paying jobs.
Vineyard Wind submitted state and federal project plans to build an offshore wind farm in 2017. Massachusetts had committed to offshore wind by requiring its utilities to solicit proposals for up to 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind power by 2027. In what might have been a fatal blow, federal regulators delayed Vineyard Wind by holding off on issuing a key environmental impact statement in 2019. Massachusetts Democratic Rep. William Keating said at the time the Trump administration was trying to stymie the renewable energy project just as it was coming to fruition.
The first U.S. offshore wind farm opened off Rhode Island’s Block Island in 2016, at the end of President Barack Obama’s tenure. But with just five turbines, it’s not a commercial-scale wind farm. The nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm officially opened in March 2024, when President Joe Biden was in office. Danish wind energy developer Orsted and the utility Eversource built that 12-turbine wind farm, called South Fork Wind, 35 miles (56 kilometers) east of Montauk Point, New York.
Trump began reversing the country’s energy policies his first day in office with a spate of executive orders aimed at boosting oil, gas and coal. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said Friday night that Trump “reversed course on Joe Biden’s costly green energy agenda that gave preferential treatment to intermittent, unreliable energy sources and instead is aggressively unleashing reliable and affordable energy sources to lower energy bills, improve our grid stability and protect our national security.”
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Trump has performed a climbdown of epic proportions, used dead soldiers as a grift for donations – and his Secretary of War has given an illegal order. Here’s everything you need to know about the last 24 hours in Trumpworld
Since returning to office last year, Donald Trump has earned a new nickname – TACO. Which is short for “Trump Always Chickens Out”.
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It started in the wake of his disastrous “Liberation Day” Tariffs – with Wall Street types using it to remind themselves that many of the nonsense announcements he makes end in a climbdown.
Today has seen him perform a climbdown of epic proportions – admitting for the first time that Operation EPIC FURY alone probably won’t be enough to protect the oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and that actually it wouldn’t be a bad idea if Britain and others sent some warships after all.
Meanwhile, in Trumpworld…
He blew up at an interviewer for his scary accuracy in predicting his next move in the Middle East,
He used dead soldiers as a grift for donations
Pete Hegseth gave what could amount to an illegal order.
Here’s what you need to know
1. Trump has changed his tune on the UK sending ships to help in the Middle East
Donald Trump has performed a humiliating u-turn, begging the UK and others to send warships to the Middle East to help police the Strait of Hormuz.
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Less than a week ago, the US President declared the war in Iran was “already won” – dismissing reports the UK was preparing the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to deploy to the region.
“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website.
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
But today he appeared to have completely changed his tune as Iran continued to threaten ships attempting to sail the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for seaborne oil.
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“Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” he wrote.
“We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are.”
He went on to call on other countries to help the US police the Strait: “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated.
“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!”
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2. Trump blew up at interviewer who suggested he bomb Kharg Island…which he did 24 hours later
Trump announced last night that he had given the order to bomb Kharg Island, which is home to Iran’s main oil export terminal – and is critical to the country’s economy.
The US targeted military installations on the island, but Trump warned the oil facilities would be next if Iran continued to block the Strait of Hormuz – the main shipping route for oil heading to the west.
He wrote on Truth Social: “Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.
“Our Weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the World has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”
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What makes it even more interesting is an interview Trump recorded 24 hours earlier, which was published just hours before the attack took place.
Trump spoke to (who else?) Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade, who asked him whether he had plans to “take” the island.
And he got pretty shirty with Kilmeade about the question.
“I can’t answer a question like that. You shouldn’t ask it. It’s not high on the list, but it’s one of many different things, and I can change my mind in seconds,” Trump said.
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He then asked Kilmeade: “Who would ask a question like that, and what fool would answer it?
“It’s sort of a foolish question. A little surprising for you, because you’re a smart man,’ he told the host.
“Let’s say I was going to do it or let’s say I wasn’t going to do it, why would I tell you?”
3. So one of two things has happened here…
This leaves us with two possible scenarios. Either Kilmeade got incredibly lucky, and accurately predicted the Trump administration’s next move.
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Or, Trump ordered the Island be taken …because Fox News Radio host Kilmeade suggested it. Which is…way worse, right?
4. Trump uses dead soldiers to grift for donations
It’s nice that even in 2026, Donald Trump can still find ways to shock and disgust people. Last night, a fundraising email from Trump’s Political Action Committee used an image from last Saturday’s ceremony that saw six US soldiers who died in the Iran war returned to the US.
Trump had already been accused of showing disrespect to the fallen by showing up to the event wearing a white USA baseball cap. The one he wears when he goes to play golf.
But he managed to make matters yet worse by taking a photo taken at the event and using it in a begging bowl email to his most gullible supporters, and offering them the chance to be included in his “private national security briefings”, which is obviously illegal as well as distasteful.
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5. Pete Hegseth gave an illegal order
Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War, urged troops to show “no quarter, no mercy for our enemies”. Which is super, super illegal.
Hegseth, in the middle of the thing he literally got Trump to add to his job title, spent more time berating the media for not giving him an easier ride than he did on the actual things happening in the conflict that will no doubt replace the time when he almost accidentally killed a military drummer with an axe on telly as the thing he’s best remembered for.
But the directive to show “no quarter” is notable, because it’s not just a macho declaration, it’s an actual war crime. It has a specific meaning in the law of armed combat – and means killing your enemies instead of capturing them.
Senator Mark Kelly was quick to point this out on Twitter – pointedly so, given Hegseth has been trying to take his military pension off him for making a video reminding US servicemen and women that they’re not required to follow illegal orders. Like this one.
Here are six ways the conflict in the Middle East could hit the pockets of Brits
The US and Israeli war on Iran has now surpassed two weeks – and there is no end in sight. Shockwaves from events unfolding thousands of miles away in the Middle East are already being felt here in the UK.
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Fuel prices have shot up in recent weeks due to a rise in the cost of oil, the costs of a new mortgage have risen, and the conflict has the potential to drive up the cost of energy bills, goods in shops, flight prices, and motor insurance premiums.
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Little over two weeks ago, inflation was easing, wage growth was slowing and the smart money was on its Monetary Policy Committee voting to reduce its base rate from 3.75% to 3.5% – with the hope of more to come as 2026 went on. Lenders were busy reducing fixed rate mortgages in anticipation, in welcome news for those looking for a new home loan or coming off often cheap deals and needing to re-mortgage.
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Now, an interest rate cut next week looks unlikely, with talk of possible rate rises later in the year. This in itself has been a blow for borrowers with variable rate mortgages or home loans linked to the Bank’s base rate.
Meanwhile, lenders have been rapidly pulling cheap fixed-rate deals and replacing them with ones that cost more. Industry experts Moneyfacts says the average new five-year fixed rate mortgage has now hit a near 12-month high of 5.19%, up from 4.95% just before the conflict erupted.
The average two-year fix has jumped to 5.10%, from 4.83% a couple of weeks ago. For someone applying a typical two-year fixed rate deal, and borrowing £180,000, that means an extra £336 on their annual repayments. With all important swap rates – which determine lenders’ costs – rising, the hit to borrowers will likely worsen.
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And to make matters worse, the number of fixed deals on offer has crashed by 530 since the chaos caused by the conflict began on February 28..
Adam French, Head of Consumer Finance at Moneyfacts, said: “Even the very cheapest deals are shooting higher, with the lowest available mortgage rate climbing from 3.51% at the start of March to sit at 3.78% today, its highest level since April 2025.
“It’s unwelcome news for borrowers, as hopes of steadily falling mortgage rates have collapsed and given way to a much more uncertain outlook. The destination is now heavily dependent on how global markets and inflation expectations evolve in response to the conflict the Middle East.”
Estate agents fear the war could shatter hopes of a fragile recovery in the housing market. A survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors showed new buyer enquiries had already weakened further in February.
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Tarrant Parsons, RICS’ head of market research and analytics, said: “The recent rise in oil and energy prices has increased the likelihood that mortgage rates will remain higher for longer.”
Here are six ways the Iran war could affect UK household costs.
House prices and rents
Drone strikes on Dubai has spooked British expats living there, leading to speculation that they – along with property investors – may look for safe havens to put their money. That could include the UK, and especially London, which has the potential to push up house prices.
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Even in the short term, it could lead to a spike in rents in some upmarket areas. According to reports, Brit who settled in Dubai are contacting luxury property agents to arrange emergency £5,000-a-week rentals in London.
If even a few thousand of the wealthiest British expats among 240,000 who live in the UAE come home as a result of the war, it could have a big impact property prices and rents in certain postcodes.
Fuel prices
Petrol and diesel prices have risen sharply, causing fresh misery for motorists here in the UK. And the price of heating oil has doubled, with households in rural areas among those left reeling.
Data from the RAC revealed the nationwide average for unleaded has reached 140.60p a litre. Diesel has risen even faster, surging to 158.23p. The surge has added nearly £9 to the cost of a typical fill-up for a diesel driver, and £3.85 a go for unleaded.
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RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Households, especially those that depend on the car, are under increasing financial pressure as a result of the conflict in the Gulf.
“The average price of a litre of unleaded has now risen by 6%, or nearly 8p, to 140.6p since the start of the conflict and is it at its highest in 18 months. Diesel has rocketed by 12% – or almost 17p – to 159.18p a litre, a price we’ve not seen since November 2023. Filling a family car is now £4 and £9 more than it was less than two weeks ago.
“The fact the cost of a barrel of oil has exceeded $100 and wholesale fuel prices continue to rise is concerning, but it’s the speed at which drivers are feeling the effects which is under the spotlight now.
“Drivers deserve – and should expect – to be treated fairly when it comes to filling up, especially with pump prices still heading north.”
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To add to concerns, a report from experts at Fathom Consulting warned a prolonged blockage of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to oil prices above $170 per barrel and a global recession.
Energy bills
Another big threat is a potential surge in energy bills for both households and businesses. As it is, most households are protected for now because of Ofgem’s price cap, which limits how much suppliers can charge per unit of energy.
The cap will actually fall from April 1, with average annual bill coming down by on average £117 a year, to £1,641. That’s mostly due to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement in the last Budget that an average £150 worth of policy costs were being removed from what customers pay.
This was before events in Middle East blew up, and wholesale costs – which account for the biggest chunk of customers’ bills – soared. The problem will hit when Ofgem’s price cap next changes, in July. It’s early days but the surge in wholesale costs is likely to mean the cap going back up.
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The price cap is determined by the average cost of wholesale gas over the next three months. Industry experts Cornwall Insight has estimated the cap could jump back up by £186 a year to around £1,827. That was based on the closing price of gas on March 3, since when prices have risen a further 10%.
Holidays
Even many families’ precious week or so in the sun could cost more this year. The cost of jet fuel has leapt by about 80% since the start of the Middle East crisis a week ago.
The Middle East and its Gulf states is a major source of aviation fuel, accounting for about 50% of Europe’s imports, meaning ticket prices could rise, further fuelling inflation.
Some Brits are putting holiday plans on hold and making big changes because of the Middle East crisis. Leading holiday firm On the Beach reported a “significant” drop in demand from families for getaways to normally popular hotspots Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt.
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While higher jet fuel prices will put upward pressure on fares, falling demand for certain destinations could work the other way.
Data from the website Travelsupermarket shows people are already making different booking decisions because of events in the Middle East. Online searches for holidays to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean soared 123% in the first 11 days of March, it said, with Cape Verde and Antigua both doubling. Higher prices for foreign breaks could prompt more people to holiday at home.
Richard Young, chief executive of holiday company selfcatering.co.uk, told the Mirror: “Global uncertainty and rising fuel prices can quickly influence how people plan their holidays, and when overseas trips become more expensive and potentially dangerous, many start looking closer to home. We saw this during the pandemic, periods of airline disruption and previous fuel price spikes, and at times like this interest in self catering breaks tends to rise as they offer families a chance to enjoy a proper getaway with more space and flexibility, without the stress, anxiety, rising costs and unpredictability of travelling abroad.
”Yorkshire Dales and Norfolk – not always at the top of people’s list, but likely to see a spike as people venture out of the hot spots. Northumberland always popular (Alnwick, Bamburgh), Devon popular and crowded (Salcombe, Dartmouth), Cotswolds (expensive anyway but will likely see a further increase), anywhere around the Lakes and Highland hot spots such as Braemar, Fort William and Inverness.”
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Insurance
It might not be an obvious impact, but it is claimed the conflict could also drive up the cost of getting your motor insured.
Kara Gammell, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, explains: “The conflict could disrupt supply chains, which in turn could lead to higher shipping costs and make some raw materials used in car parts harder to source. If replacement parts become more expensive or take longer to arrive, repair costs could rise too.
“When insurers set premiums, they look at how much it costs to repair vehicles and settle claims, so any increase in those areas may put some upward pressure on what drivers pay. You might not notice any big changes straightaway, but if your renewal is coming up, it’s always worth shopping around.”
The PSNI are asking the public for help following a midweek burglary in Co Tyrone
Rob Currell Live news reporter
16:38, 14 Mar 2026
Detectives are appealing for information following the report of a burglary in Cookstown on Wednesday, March 11.The incident was reported to police around 9pm after the resident of a property in the Rathmore area returned home to discover that they had been burgled.Officers attended and it was observed that entry had been gained via the back door of the property which had been smashed. A number of rooms had been disturbed, with jewellery and personal items being stolen during the burglary.
The incident is believed to have happened sometime between 11:30am and 9:00pm.Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything or who may have any information that could assist in the investigation to get in contact on 101 quoting reference 1714 11/03/26.
