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       Alok Sharma insists gas supplies are secure

       Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will meet gas industry bosses on Monday amid concerns over rising energy prices, after wholesale costs spiked 70 per cent in August alone.

       The minister, who has acknowledged that it is a “worrying time” for customers, held talks with the regulator Ofgem on Sunday, insisting the public would be protected by the government’s energy price caps.

       Boris Johnson also sought to reassure the public by saying he had “no doubt that supply issues will be readily addressed”.

       However, there are fears that more small energy suppliers could fold, after four firms went bust recently.

       Meanwhile, the prime minister is in the US for talks with leaders of the Quad grouping, following its diplomatic fallout with France.

       Emmanuel Macron’s government recalled its ambassadors in the US and Australia, after the latter reneged on a $40bn submarine deal with France to develop nuclear-powered submarines with British and American technology instead.

       Mr Johnson, who will visit the White House on Tuesday, has played down tensions, describing the UK’s love of France as “ineradicable”.

       Recommended Climate emergency: Only six in 10 chance of success at Glasgow summit, admits Boris Johnson Boris Johnson love-bombs France after ‘vassal’ jibe Supply chain crisis could last months, admits Boris Johnson

       Key Points Kwarteng to hold emergency energy talks Supply chain issues could last months, PM admits France cancels defence summit with UK in protest at Aukus submarine deal

       Show latest update 1632126638 PM tries to soothe tensions with France

       Boris Johnson has spoken of Britain’s “ineradicable” love for France in a bid to soothe tensions with Paris, following the backlash caused by the Aukus nuclear submarine partnership between Australia, the US and the UK.

       As a result of this agreement, France lost its 56bn euro deal to provide Australia with 12 diesel-electric submarines.

       French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called the move a “stab in the back”, while Emmanuel Macron’s administration described the UK as a “vassal” state of the US.

       Boris Johnson love-bombs France after ‘vassal’ jibe Relationship with Paris ‘absolutely vital’, says PM in bid to soothe Macron ire

       Rory Sullivan 20 September 2021 09:30

       1632125438 Inside Politics

       In our daily politics round-up, Jon Stone takes a closer look at Boris Johnson’s climate diplomacy and his chances of success:

       Inside Politics: Boris Johnson is touching down in America for a bit of climate diplomacy – but he isn’t optimistic, writes Jon Stone

       Rory Sullivan 20 September 2021 09:10

       1632124373 Only six in 10 chance of success at Cop26, says Johnson

       Boris Johnson has said there is only a “six out of 10” chance of achieving a breakthrough agreement at the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow in November.

       Speaking from New York, he warned bluntly that some major economies “need to do much more” if the talks are to prove a success.

       “It’s going to be tough, but people need to understand that this is crucial for the world,” he added.

       Our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports:

       Only six in 10 chance of success at Glasgow climate summit, admits Boris Johnson PM urges world leaders to fulfil $100bn global warming pledge to developing world

       Rory Sullivan 20 September 2021 08:52

       1632123462 Truss to meet Iranian foreign minister over detained UK nationals

       The new foreign secretary Liz Truss will demand that Iran releases detained UK nationals - including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe - during a meeting with her Iranian counterpart on Monday.

       She will hold talks with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

       Ms Truss said: “I will be asking Iran to ensure the immediate and permanent release of all arbitrarily detained British nationals in Iran, and to begin working with us to mend our fractured relations.

       “The UK, US and our international partners are fully committed to a nuclear deal, but every day that Iran continues to delay talks whilst escalating its own nuclear programme means there is less space for diplomacy.”

       Rory Sullivan 20 September 2021 08:37

       1632122430 France cancels defence summit with UK in protest

       France has cancelled a summit with British defence secretary Ben Wallace in protest at the Aukus submarine deal, reports have suggested.

       The move comes in response to Australia’s decision to cancel a submarine deal with France in favour of the new Aukus security partnership with the US and Britain.

       Here’s Peter Stubley with more details:

       France cancels defence summit with UK in protest at Aukus submarine deal French armed forces minister pulls out of meeting with defence secretary Ben Wallace

       Rory Sullivan 20 September 2021 08:20

       1632121598 Supply chain issues could last months, PM admits

       Boris Johnson has not ruled out the possibility that the energy crisis could last for months.

       Its knock-on effects include a carbon dioxide shortage threatening meat production and the distribution of frozen food.

       Although the prime minister, who is currently in the US to meet Joe Biden, said the crisis would be “temporary”, he was unwilling to give an assurance that it would not last for months.

       Supply chain crisis could last months, admits Boris Johnson Government will do ‘whatever it can’ to prevent failure of further energy companies

       Rory Sullivan 20 September 2021 08:06

       1632120799 Kwarteng to hold emergency energy talks

       Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will meet energy industry leaders on Monday amid fears about rising gas prices.

       This comes after wholesale costs rose by 70 per cent in August, exacerbating a situation that has worsened significantly since January.

       The minister did not out appointing a “special administrator”, which is seen as a form of temporary nationalisation.

       “Our priority is to protect consumers. If a supplier of last resort is not possible, a special administrator would be appointed by Ofgem and the government,” Mr Kwarteng said.

       “The objective is to continue supply to customers until the company can be rescued or customers moved to new suppliers.”

       Rory Sullivan 20 September 2021 07:53

       1632120380

       Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s live UK politics coverage.

       Rory Sullivan 20 September 2021 07:46

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