The number of fixed energy deals offering a saving against the price cap has fallen into single figures as wholesale fuel prices rise amid continued disruption in the Middle East.

MoneySuperMarket Energy says the cheapest fixed deals are now only 2% below the October Energy Price Cap, compared with 14% in July.

The cheapest tariffs beat the October cap by just £31 on average, according to the latest figures.

The warning comes less than two weeks before the price cap rises by 3.9% on October 1, adding around £66 to a typical annual household bill and taking it to £1,729.

At the same time, wholesale oil prices have risen sharply, with crude oil at around $98 a barrel on September 21, after reaching $103 at the end of last week.

MoneySuperMarket says oil prices are now around 70% higher than at the start of the year.

Just four deals beat the October cap

Households looking to protect themselves from future price rises are being urged to compare fixed tariffs while cheaper deals remain available.

MoneySuperMarket says there are currently just four fixed deals beating the October price cap, while some industry forecasts suggest the January cap could rise significantly further.

The exact January figure is not yet known and will depend on wholesale energy costs and Ofgem’s eventual calculation.

MoneySuperMarket Energy expert Laura Hinton said: “The ongoing disruption in the Middle East continues to put pressure on wholesale fuel prices.

“As suppliers buy energy in advance, any easing in wholesale costs is unlikely to be reflected in bills immediately. With another Price Cap increase forecast in January, we recommend looking into fixed-rate tariffs. Locking in a fixed rate means you’re shielded from future price rises and gives you a clearer idea of what your energy costs will be for peace of mind and to make budgeting easier.

“We’ve already seen fixed tariffs become more expensive and the number of deals below the Price Cap shrink. The most competitive fixed deals can be withdrawn or repriced at short notice, so acting now could help households secure greater certainty over their bills this winter.”

“Why are bills UP £300 when they were meant to be DOWN £300?” Martin puts your first question to Energy Secretary @Miatsf

For more inc on standing charges, green policy, regional pricing, and Jan’s predicted 24% price hike. Watch the full energy bills special on… pic.twitter.com/0tVWHCrprj

— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) September 17, 2026

Energy bills already higher than last year

The latest figures show energy costs remain 9.7% higher than a year ago and 58% higher than five years ago, based on Ofgem’s updated typical consumption values.

Households are therefore facing another increase when the October cap takes effect.

However, there will also be a temporary reduction in VAT on domestic electricity.

From October 1, VAT on domestic electricity is due to fall from 5% to 0% until March 31, 2027.

MoneySuperMarket estimates this could save a typical household around £45 a year.

The VAT reduction will also apply to customers who have already fixed their tariff.

This means households do not necessarily lose the benefit of the VAT cut by taking a fixed deal before October.

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How much could switching save?

MoneySuperMarket says households could save up to £173 a year by switching energy tariffs, based on the median saving among customers who switched through the service in June 2026, excluding Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

The company also says its SuperSaveClub can provide a £10 reward when customers switch to an eligible deal.

However, the potential saving will vary between households depending on their current tariff, energy use and the deal available to them.

A fixed tariff also does not mean a household will pay exactly the same amount every year. The unit rates and standing charges are fixed, but the total bill still depends on how much energy is used.

With the number of tariffs beating the October cap already shrinking, households considering a fix will need to compare the full cost of each deal, including unit rates, standing charges, exit fees and the length of the contract.

Anti-migrant campaigner ‘Danny Tommo’ has accused Left-wing activists of sabotaging a boat he bought to help police the English Channel after it sank.

Daniel Thomas is founder of the Patriot Platform, a group of protesters he describes as ‘working-class men who are bricklayers, roofers and carpenters who build the house you live in, the roads you drive on’.

They have been involved in recent anti-migrant disturbances in Dover in Kent and his home town of Portsmouth earlier this month, the latter of which forced the city’s RNLI station to close.

Earlier this year the 37-year-old’s followers helped pay for a small rigid-hulled inflatable boat, called The Patriot, which was intended to be used to patrol the sea between England and France.

However, having posted about his team having access to the boat on social media site X in April, the vessel then sank in Littlehampton, West Sussex, weeks later.

Two months later Thomas launched a crowdfunding appeal to salvage the vessel and  suggested, without evidence, that it could have been a result of sabotage by his political opponents.

A video was posted on his YouTube channel with the title: ‘EMERGENCY: Left Trying To Seize/Destroy Our Boat – Need To Move It ASAP! #ThePatriot’.

He wrote: ‘I’m paying £400 myself, just need a little help with the rest if your able to! If you can help in any way, please support us right now. Every contribution gets the boat out and back into action.

‘This is our boat. Our future. Our resistance.’

The Times now reports that the vessel had got into problems due to mechanical issues at the mouth of the river Arun and began to sink in Littlehampton Harbour, where officials had to retrieve it. 

While Mr Thomas later collected it, the boat’s present whereabouts are said to be unknown and it has reportedly not been used by him since. 

A campaign on the website GiveSendGo, so far generating more than £20,000, shows Mr Thomas promising to use donations for ‘new boats and marine equipment for essential water-based operations’.

Money would also go towards fuel, accommodation and storage for the group’s ‘assets’, the appeal states.

Mr Thomas has previously shared on social media an invoice suggesting he was charged £1,775 by Littlehampton Harbour, including £738 for use of a recovery vessel. 

He posted a video of the boat on X on August 25 this year accompanied by the message: ‘”The Patriot” is about to receive a full makeover and will return stronger than ever, ready for the Patriot Platform.

‘Thank you to the lads who are about to make her sea worthy again.’

The campaigner, known as ‘Danny Tommo’, has shared online fundraising appeals to help restore the vessel

The boat got into problems due mechanical issues at the mouth of the river Arun and began to sink in Littlehampton Harbour, where officials had to retrieve it

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Mr Thomas previously served time in prison after being convicted of kidnapping and is a long-time associate of far-Right campaigner Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

Father-of-four and roofing company director Mr Thomas has a military background, having served as a tank driver with the King’s Royal Hussars.

But his Army career was cut short, having been discharged on medical grounds before seeing any active service.

He has said that his violent past brought him to a turning point and forced him to recast himself as a Christian activist.

He was jailed for two years in 2016 after bursting into the home of Graham Page in Hayling Island, Hampshire, along with two accomplices.

The three men were armed with knives and shouted ‘you’re coming with us’ before punching the victim, pinning him against a wall and trying to force him from his home.

They had wrongly accused Mr Page of stealing £10,000 worth of drugs from them.

The Daily Mail has approached Mr Thomas for comment on the latest claims. 

The Met Office has said there could be “air frost” this week

The Met Office has forecast “chilly nights” in parts of the UK this week alongside possible “frost” in the air at times.

It comes as the UK is set to see a generally “warm” week, with temperatures climbing into the mid 20s in places. But the week will also see cooler snaps as well as some strong wind and heavy rain.

The Met Office said that Monday (September 21) will be dry, warm and sunny across southern parts of the UK, with light winds forecast. More clouds and some patchy rain will be expected in the north and west of the country, with temperatures reaching highs of 24C in the south and 22C in the north.

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A cold front will move over the country across Scotland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday (September 22), bring a mix of cloud and sunshine to the country. Temperatures will be warmer in the south east, reaching 25C or 26C.

More changeable conditions are then expected to hit from Wednesday.

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Tony Wisson said: “The forecast becomes more changeable from Wednesday as a series of weather fronts move across the UK.

“There remains some uncertainty over the exact track of a frontal system on Wednesday which could bring a spell of heavy rain, particularly across eastern and southeastern Scotland, and potentially parts of northern and northeastern England.”

Mr Wisson continued: “We’re closely monitoring this development and would encourage people to keep up to date with the latest forecasts over the coming days. It’s likely that many southern areas will remain largely dry.

“It’s set to be a notably chilly night on Wednesday into Thursday, with a chance of localised air frost in some rural locations, as cooler air moves in from the northwest.

“Thursday should bring long sunny spells for much of England and Wales, though we’re also monitoring the potential for strong winds to affect the far northwest of the UK. Temperatures in London may reach around 22°C, but another cool night is likely to follow in the south.

“With watchpoints ahead this week, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the forecast as the week goes on.”

Alexander Brennan killed Brodie McGregor at her flat in Glasgow’s Springburn on August 26, 2024.

A thug who brutally murdered his partner in a frenzied attack was given a life sentence. Alexander Brennan, 54, killed young mum Brodie MacGregor, 23, at her flat in Glasgow’s Springburn on August 26 2024.

Brennan left Brodie’s face effectively hanging off after he repeatedly struck her with glass bottles in a scene a witness said would “stay with me forever”. Callous Brennan got rid of his blood-stained trousers and locked Brodie’s dead body inside her flat before dialling 999.

He then boarded a train to the Falkirk area where he told a friend’s partner “I just couldn’t stop.” Brennan, of Larbert, was found guilty today of murdering Brodie and was jailed for a minimum of 22 years.

Judge Lord Scott told him: “You murdered her when she was 23 – there were no victim impact statements but I am told about surviving siblings and a young child left without their mother. You brutally murdered a woman who offered no threat to you.

“A doctor described her injuries as ones seen in high velocity impacts or falling from a building. As she lay there for around an hour, conscious or unconscious, you took no steps to seek medical assistance which would have offered a slight chance that she would survive.

“You showed complete disregard to whether she lived or died.” The High Court in Glasgow previously heard that Brennan had fallen out with Brodie.

A taxi from Stirling dropped Brennan off at Brodie’s home around 1.35am and he went inside. Brodie dialled 999 around 4.35am, where she was heard to say on the call: “You attacked me.”

Officers attended Brodie’s home but were told by her that the call was a mistake and that she was safe in Brennan’s company. CCTV later showed the pair separately leaving the property and walking in the surrounding area before returning to the flat.

Around 9.41am, footage showed Brennan putting his blood stained trousers in a clothing bin near Brodie’s flat. He was seen to place a phone to his ear at 9.55am in a 999 call which lasted over 90 seconds.

When asked by the call handler if the patient was breathing, Brennan replied: “I don’t think so.”

Later in the call, the handler asked him what happened and he did not respond to the question. Paramedics quickly arrived at the flat but could not get in so the fire brigade were called to force open the door lock.

Witnesses found Brodie lying face down on the living room floor, surrounded by fragments of broken glass bottles. Prosecutor Alan Parfery asked detective sergeant David White what he noticed about Brodie’s mouth and he replied: “It looks like her mouth has been severed completely.

“Her face more or less was hanging off.”

The flat – which was in a state of disarray – was found to have blood in various areas. DS White said: “There was a lot of blood spraying which extended to the ceiling. This was one that stood out for me and will stay with me forever.”

Brodie was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene at 10.15am. Meantime, Brennan was on a train to Camelon in the Falkirk area where he visited the home of friend Robert McCallum.

Mr McCallum’s then partner Tina Marie Hatton, 46, told jurors that Brennan had “blood all over him” and she put his stained jumper in the washing machine. Miss Hatton asked what had happened and was told “I couldn’t stop.”

When asked by Mr Parfery if he gave an explanation for the comment or who he was referring to, Miss Hatton said: “He just mentioned Brodie and that she was a b****.”

Miss Hatton added that Brennan told her that he was “done.”

Hatton was seen on CCTV to go into a shop that day and the next day before his eventual arrest at an associate’s house in Stirling on August 28.

The blood stained jumper was seized from the washing machine and the trousers were recovered from the clothing bin. The blood on the garments was found to have come from Brodie.

A post-mortem examination carried out on Brodie after her death identified a total of 78 injuries to her head and body.

Doctor Julie McAdam, 54, stated that Brodie’s cause of death was “facial injures.”

The doctor added: “She had extensive facial injuries.

“There were a mixture of blunt force injuries, bruises, abrasions and lacerations.

“She also had severe sharp force injuries to her face, particularly her mouth.”

An injury which separated Brodie’s lips from her gumline, is one the experienced pathologist said she had never seen before.

Brodie was described as having two “bilateral black eyes”, which Dr McAdam said is seen in “high velocity injuries, people in road traffic injuries or seriously assaulted.”

It was further stated that Brodie had also swallowed a lot of blood which filled her lungs and airways.

Dr McAdam added that Brodie would have been alive for an hour after suffering her injuries and could have survived had medical assistance been sought sooner.

The advocate depute suggested a scenario that the face and head injuries could be explained by Brodie being struck with intact and broken glass and then being continued to be struck with broken glass.

Dr McAdam replied: “Yes.”

Mr Parfery told jurors in his closing speech: “In a stunning act of brutality he struck her with broken glass bottles multiple times.”

Brian McConnachie KC, defending, stated after the verdict: “As far as events are concerned, he has very little recollection.

“As I understand it, he has some recollection of an argument taking place but has unable through proceedings to accept total responsibility for what took place.”

It was revealed that Brennan has previous convictions for assaults which include to injury.

Family and friends flocked to social media to pay tribute to the mum following her death.

One wrote: “So sad. RIP Brodie, thoughts go out to her family.

Another said: “May her soul rest in peace and her family stay strong. My thoughts are with them all.”

A third added: “Poor girl, RIP sweetheart. My thoughts are with your family and friends.”

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Meghan Markle will not be joining Prince Harry at the WellChild Awards celebrating the achievements and resilience of seriously ill youngsters and their families.

The Duchess of Sussex has not been seen at a public event since the Sussexes returned to the UK in late August, and speculation was rife she would attend the event being staged later in London.

Harry attended major events associated with his Invictus Games on consecutive days last week but there was no sign of his wife.

It has been reported Meghan is aiming to rekindle her work with her UK-based charities but it is understood she will not attend today’s charity event.

Harry has been patron of WellChild – the national charity for seriously ill children and their families – since 2007 and regularly attends the awards ceremony.

The engagement is described as ‘continuing his long association with WellChild as the charity’s patron’, with the awards, which he has attended 15 times, being a ‘significant part of his annual programme’.

In a message on the charity’s website the duke said: ‘It is always a privilege to be part of the WellChild Awards and to meet the extraordinary children, young people, families and professionals whose courage and determination inspire us all.

‘This year feels particularly special as we celebrate 20 years of the WellChild Nurse programme; two decades of supporting thousands of children and families and helping them to live more of their lives at home.

‘These awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate that impact, but above all to celebrate the incredible people at the heart of it. Their stories are a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through compassion, connection and community.’

During the event Harry will meet this year’s winners and their families, carers and health professionals to hear about their experiences supporting children with serious and complex health needs.

Last Thursday, Harry made his first public appearance since returning to the UK, when he attended an event for the Invictus Games, describing life since his return as ‘eventful’.

He then played pickleball with schoolchildren at Ninestiles Academy in Birmingham on Friday, to mark the launch of a new Invictus Games education scheme called Inspire.

The duke’s public engagements come as the serialisation of a book about his mother Diana, Princess of Wales written by his uncle Earl Spencer made serious allegations against the King.

The earl accused the monarch of gaslighting him after Buckingham Palace pushed back against allegations that he said ‘we’ll forget her soon enough’ after Diana died.

Prince Harry play fights with a WellChild award winner at the last ceremony in September 2025

Since the Sussexes flew home on August 26 they have been involved in their own public spat with Buckingham Palace about their status and their children have moved schools after issues were raised by their security team about the school run.

The Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020 for personal and financial reasons but rumours remain rife as to why they unexpectedly relocated to the UK from California, where they had created a life away from the institution of the monarchy.

Speculation ranges from the couple wanting their children to develop a closer relationship with their grandfather the King, Meghan seeking a return to acting and the Sussexes wanting to increase their profile.

In the run-up to their return Charles was said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the Sussex family, but remained adamant they would not be working royals, and there was no half-in, half-out option.

Within two weeks of arriving there was reported pushback from the Sussexes after a letter, authorised by the King, was circulated by the Lord Chamberlain to senior stakeholders in the Government and military reiterating the couple were ‘private citizens’ and setting out guidance on how they should be treated.

Harry and Meghan were said to be ‘surprised’ by the formal letter and the couple, who are waiting to hear whether they will be given taxpayer-funded security, were reported to prefer the term ‘public figures’ instead.

School has been an issue for the Sussexes, with their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, moved to a new undisclosed institution after just two days in class.

The decision came after heavy traffic and the lengthy journey to the school reportedly put the Sussexes’ security team under strain.

He died when he was hit by a coach on the busy road

A “kind and loving” man who was killed when he was hit by a coach on the A14 has been named by police. The crash happened on Saturday, September 12 at around 1.35pm between Histon and Milton.

Nathan Price, 33, of King’s Hedges Road in Cambridge died at the scene after being hit by a white Yutong coach. The driver of the coach, a 39-year-old man from Peterborough was uninjured.

Paying tribute to Nathan, his family said: “In loving memory of Nathan Ellis Price, a very much-loved son, brother, father and uncle. Nathan was a kind, loving person with the biggest heart and has left a very big void in our hearts.”

Police are continuing to appeal for anyone who may have dashcam footage of the crash to get in touch. Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident 260 of September 12.

Nats saying the two incidents in September are unrelated does not offer reassurance, the managing director of Wizz Air UK said.

Yvonne Moynihan said in a statement: “Last week, a Nats system failure brought widespread disruption to the south of the UK. Today, another failure has affected the north. Passengers and airlines are entitled to ask: which part of the country will be next?

“Nats claims the two incidents are unrelated. Far from offering reassurance, this raises an even more serious question: how many other hidden weaknesses remain within its systems? Repeated apologies are no longer enough.

“Nats must urgently fix these failures, demonstrate that robust back-up systems are in place and provide full transparency about how repeated outages can occur within such a short period.

“Airlines are once again being left to manage the operational and financial consequences of a failure entirely outside their control while passengers pay the real price through delays, cancellations and disrupted plans. This cannot continue.”

Donald Trump declared today that Russia has ‘lost control’ of its diesel industry after a Ukrainian blitz, even as his own war with Iran sends US fuel prices to record highs.

‘A large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday morning.

‘This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended,’ he said, claiming 25,000 people, ‘mostly soldiers’, were being killed every month. ‘What a shame!’

The statement came hours after Trump pressed Volodymyr Zelensky to halt Kyiv‘s strikes on Russian refineries during a Sunday phone call, the Financial Times reported. 

The president’s message was ‘diesel, diesel . . . diesel’, a senior Ukrainian official on the call told the paper. A second official said Trump wanted Russian fuel flowing back onto the world market to push prices down.  

Trump claimed a week ago that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to stop striking each other’s energy sites, while blaming the global diesel spike on the Ukraine war rather than his conflict in Iran. Ukrainian officials said no such truce existed. 

The US and Israel’s strikes on Iran in February effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes. US diesel hit a record $6.51 on Monday, according to AAA, up from about $3.76 before the war. 

The squeeze has become a headache for Republicans weeks before the midterm elections. Diesel prices are particularly important to the economy because the fuel powers trucks, trains and farm machinery that move food and goods. 

Flame and smoke is seen rising from Moscow’s oil refinery in the south east of the city following a largescale Ukrainian drone attack, Sunday

Flame and smoke is seen rising from Moscow’s oil refinery in the south east of the city following a largescale Ukrainian drone attack, Sunday

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Trump’s call with Zelensky came hours after Ukraine launched what Russian officials said was the largest drone attack ever on Moscow, setting a major oil refinery ablaze and killing at least two people.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 450 drones were shot down.

Kyiv’s drone crews have increasingly targeted the intricate distillation towers that are among the longest parts of Russian refineries to repair. 

Around a third of Russia’s refining capacity has been knocked out, forcing Moscow to restrict refined-fuel exports and turn to imports from India.

The pressure comes as the war with Iran expands into Yemen, where Saudi Arabia urged Trump over the weekend to strike Iran-backed Houthi targets.  

Trump withdrew at the last minute on Sunday as US commanders were lining up targets and troops had missiles locked and loaded, the New York Times reported.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized territory in Yemen in weekend fighting with Saudi-backed forces. The fighting has further threatened shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key route for global energy supplies.  

The route has become more important as the conflict has disrupted other energy corridors, including Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, which carries Aramco oil around Hormuz. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Russian Federal Customs Service Valery Pikalev in Moscow, Monday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) attends a ceremony of the National flag rising in the reclaimed city of Izyum in Kharkiv’s area, Ukraine, 2022

Putin said this month he had ordered his forces to prepare a mass air strike campaign in retaliation for Kyiv’s attacks on Russian energy sites.

‘They are hitting ours. They’ll get an answer. That’s basically how it is,’ he said.

The Kremlin leader is unlikely to agree to any energy truce before winter is out, when his forces plan a punishing air assault on Ukraine’s grid, people briefed on his thinking told the FT.

One senior Ukrainian official believes Trump may be sitting on the sweeping Russia sanctions law he signed last week as leverage to get Kyiv to stop the refinery strikes, the paper reported.

Zelensky, who meets Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, defended the campaign on Monday, calling the strikes ‘part of the pressure that is actually working and the world can feel it.’