Minister defends relaxing some Russian oil sanctions with Starmer set to face PMQs grilling – UK politics live

Dan Tomlinson says move is ‘time-limited’ as Tories attack ‘insane’ decision and call for more drilling in North Sea

• UK relaxes strict sanctions on Russian crude as oil costs soar

Dan Tomlinson, the Treasury minister, has said the government would not force supermarkets to impose compulsory price caps on food items.

As the Guardian and others have reported, the government has raised the idea of a voluntary cap in discussions with supermarkets.

It’s right that the government looks across the board at what more we can do - both government levers but also talking to industry about the steps that they can take to support people with the cost of living.

I think the whole idea is the stuff of nonsense and it will never fly.

This smacks of state control, it’s idiotic, it’s dangerous and it’ll never work.

The UK has the most affordable grocery prices in Western Europe thanks to the fierce competition between supermarkets.

Rather than introduce 1970s style price controls and trying to force retailers to sell goods at a loss, the government must focus on how it will reduce the public policy costs which are pushing up food prices in the first place.