Sam Rushworth MP has slammed heating oil suppliers for profiteering from the crisis in the Middle East and assured affected residents that he is actively raising their concerns in Westminster, both in the House of Commons chamber and in private meetings with ministers.
The cost of heating oil has nearly doubled since the start of the conflict in the Middle East with reports of orders being cancelled and prices hiked. However, Sam has argued this current price increases are largely being driven by market fear and opportunism rather than shortages, since the UK still has sufficient energy reserves.
However, he warned that if the conflict persists beyond three months, this could put further pressure on prices, though the UK enters such a scenario from a stronger fiscal position than during previous crises. Sam cited the latest Office for Budget Responsibility figures, noting that incomes are rising faster than prices, borrowing is falling faster than any G7 country, and the deficit has been cut by £20 billion.
Sam is focusing on three key areas to protect households using heating oil and other off-grid fuels:
1. Direct Financial Support
Sam is advocating for fixed payments to all households reliant on off-grid fuels, but particularly lower-income families who do not benefit from existing schemes like the £150 Warm Home Discount available to electricity and gas customers. He has raised this issue with the Chancellor, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray, and Michael Shanks, Minister for Energy, as part of ongoing discussions. While some have expressed caution about early commitments if the price spike proves temporary, there is continued willingness to engage further on this.
2. Market Intervention
Sam is calling for scrutiny of suppliers following reports of sudden price hikes and is pleased that following requests to the Competition and Markets Authority to look at profiteering, the CMA confirmed they will look at “blatantly profiteering” firms after several concerning reports. Sam is urging residents to report to him any examples of unfair or potentially unlawful practices, including situations where prices are raised without customer consent. He is also advocating for measures to support local buying co-operatives, storage systems, and instalment payment options to mitigate price volatility.
3. Long-Term Energy Transition
Sam stresses that over half of post-war recessions have been linked to sudden spikes in global oil and gas prices. To protect consumers long-term, reducing reliance on oil through better home insulation and transitioning to alternative energy sources is crucial. He highlighted the government’s £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, which provides full grants for insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps. Sam is working to ensure eligibility criteria support rural communities, including households in areas like Durham, to make sustainable and cost-stable energy improvements.
Engagement and Ongoing Work
As a member of the Labour Rural Research Group, Sam shared a survey with residents on domestic heating oil and LPG costs to capture the experiences of rural households, which will be provided to Government w/c 15th March 2026. Sam continues to keep constituents informed of developments and government measures.
As your Member of Parliament, Sam remains committed to pressing ministers on these issues and providing updates. Residents can contact Sam directly at or via his website at www.samrushworth.co.uk.
