Starmer Faces Pressure to Address Fuel Costs During Northern Ireland Visit
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Northern Ireland has intensified expectations that his government will take action to address the rising cost of fuel, particularly home heating oil. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald emphasized this expectation following a meeting with Starmer in Belfast on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Cost of Living Crisis in Northern Ireland
McDonald stated that the cost of living crisis was the primary focus of her “very forthright” discussion with Starmer. She highlighted the particular burden faced by households in Northern Ireland, where approximately two-thirds rely on home heating oil. The Sinn Féin leader challenged Starmer to announce concrete measures to alleviate the financial strain on families.
UK-Ireland Summit in Cork
Starmer’s visit to Northern Ireland preceded his attendance at the UK-Ireland Summit in Cork, alongside several senior members of his Cabinet and Taoiseach Micheál Martin. The summit aims to foster closer cooperation between the two countries, building on the UK-Ireland 2030 program established during a previous meeting in Liverpool.
Focus on Fuel Price Gouging
McDonald accused companies of “price gouging” and contributing to the “runaway cost of home heating oil.” She urged Starmer to provide a “constructive and meaningful” response to the crisis, stating he was “left in no doubt what the expectations are.”
Calls for Crisis Fund Extension
DUP Leader Gavin Robinson similarly raised the issue of fuel costs with Starmer, specifically requesting that the Crisis and Resilience Fund – currently available only to councils in England – be extended to Northern Ireland. Robinson pointed out the discrepancy, stating the fund was set to be rebranded and implemented on April 1st, but its availability to the devolved nations remained unclear.
Disagreement Over Existing Funds
Disagreement exists regarding the utilization of an existing £81 million fund intended to support electricity consumers. Robinson criticized Sinn Féin Minister for the Economy Caoimhe Archibald for not actively deploying the fund, although Archibald maintained that Westminster Parliament must first amend the Energy Prices Act 2022 before the funds can be distributed.
UK-Ireland Cooperation
The UK-Ireland Summit in Cork will address broader issues beyond fuel costs, including international concerns such as the situation in the Middle East, and Ukraine. Martin emphasized that the program of cooperation agreed upon last year was beginning to yield results, focusing on strengthening competitiveness, resilience, reducing the cost of living, and enhancing energy security.
Bilateral Trade
The UK remains Ireland’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade increasing by 107% over the past decade to €129 billion. Ireland is the UK’s sixth-largest trading partner, and Irish companies employ approximately 150,000 people in the UK.