No 10 prepares for mass protests over Iran war cost of living crisis
Officials hold meetings to discuss potential demonstrations as country faces higher bills and shortages of key goods
Ministers are preparing for mass protests across Britain over the cost of living crisis caused by the war in Iran, The Telegraph can reveal.
Officials from several government departments have discussed the prospect of widespread demonstrations because of high prices and shortages of key goods.
Economists believe the public will continue to face higher bills for at least six months, even if Donald Trump can agree a ceasefire with Iran in the next fortnight.
Fuel prices have hit their highest level since 2022 in recent weeks, with petrol retailing at 157p per litre and diesel at 190p per litre.
Traders also expect Ofgem to significantly raise the energy price cap at the next review in late August, which will apply to bills between October and December.
Officials have been meeting for near-daily Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (Cobra) meetings to discuss contingency plans for the domestic impact of the war.
One scenario war-gamed by civil servants included mass protests across Britain over the high cost of living or shortages of key goods including fuel.
They have also raised the prospect of Iraq war-style “stop the war” demonstrations, which they believe could be concentrated in Muslim communities.
Steve Reed, the Communities Secretary, has been placed in charge of “community cohesion” during the war, although it is expected that any major protests would be managed by the Home Office and police forces.
The risk of protests is one of several domestic impacts discussed by officials, which also included fuel shortages caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Publicly, ministers have urged the public not to stockpile petrol and diesel, with some fuel stations having already reported shortages. Farmers have complained that red diesel, the low-tax fuel used for farm machinery, has been rationed by suppliers.
Fuel price protests have broken out in Ireland, where the Army was deployed to clear demonstrators from a port in Limerick and an oil refinery in Cork.
Ministers are preparing for mass protests across Britain over the cost of living crisis caused by the war in Iran, The Telegraph can reveal.
Officials from several government departments have discussed the prospect of widespread demonstrations because of high prices and shortages of key goods.
Economists believe the public will continue to face higher bills for at least six months, even if Donald Trump can agree a ceasefire with Iran in the next fortnight.
Fuel prices have hit their highest level since 2022 in recent weeks, with petrol retailing at 157p per litre and diesel at 190p per litre.
Traders also expect Ofgem to significantly raise the energy price cap at the next review in late August, which will apply to bills between October and December.
Officials have been meeting for near-daily Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (Cobra) meetings to discuss contingency plans for the domestic impact of the war.
One scenario war-gamed by civil servants included mass protests across Britain over the high cost of living or shortages of key goods including fuel.
They have also raised the prospect of Iraq war-style “stop the war” demonstrations, which they believe could be concentrated in Muslim communities.
Steve Reed, the Communities Secretary, has been placed in charge of “community cohesion” during the war, although it is expected that any major protests would be managed by the Home Office and police forces.
The risk of protests is one of several domestic impacts discussed by officials, which also included fuel shortages caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Publicly, ministers have urged the public not to stockpile petrol and diesel, with some fuel stations having already reported shortages. Farmers have complained that red diesel, the low-tax fuel used for farm machinery, has been rationed by suppliers.
Fuel price protests have broken out in Ireland, where the Army was deployed to clear demonstrators from a port in Limerick and an oil refinery in Cork.
More than 100 Irish forecourts have run dry, with protesters causing travel disruption in Dublin and other Irish cities.
Officials are also watching the price of food, which is expected to rise because of the higher cost of global shipping and the impact of the war on domestic farming.
Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has indicated that ministers would step in to support struggling households, but said support would probably be means-tested.
The Government is concerned that mass protests would place additional stress on public resources and inflame community tensions.
Last month, the Home Office approved a request by the Metropolitan Police to ban a demonstration on the annual Al Quds day to mark solidarity with Palestine.
Twelve people were arrested for taking part in the protest, which went ahead, and showing support for proscribed Islamic groups.
The conflict in Iran has already seen small pockets of anti-war protesting, including at the RAF Lakenheath base in Suffolk, which has been used by the US air force to bomb targets in the Middle East.
The Home Office has powers to ban demonstrations from specific areas, but faces opposition from free speech and civil liberties campaigners, who argue that restrictions on the right to protest are heavy-handed.
Government sources insisted the chance of mass protests was remote, although it is understood that contingency planning in the Cabinet Office’s civil contingencies directorate is under way.
A Government spokesman said: “While we don’t comment on Cobra meetings, the government maintains contingency arrangements across a wide range of scenarios, however unlikely. That is exactly as the public would expect.”
Sir Keir Starmer said he would avoid the “mistakes of Iraq”, when the UK followed the US into conflict in the Middle East and prompted million-strong demonstrations in Westminster.
In June 2022, after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine had caused household bills to soar, thousands of workers marched to Parliament in London to demand further government action on the cost of living.
