Four in five Britons worried Iran war will make food more expensive, poll finds
Four in five people are worried that the Iran war will make food more expensive, according to a new poll, as businesses warned the “window is closing” for ministers to cut energy costs for UK retailers,Research by Opinium found that 80% of people are worried about the rising price of groceries, which would come from retailers passing on cost increases to consumers, while 73% expect the conflict to push up prices of other products,The blockade of the strait of Hormuz has already sent oil and gas prices soaring, caused a crisis in the global fertiliser industry, and has made shipping and distribution more expensive,The effects have so far been felt most acutely in sectors such as manufacturing and chemicals, which use high amounts of gas,The UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced more support on bills for the most energy-intensive businesses in April, but now faces fresh calls to cut costs for the food sector.
Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said the war is “driving up costs across the supply chain and families are right to be concerned”.She said ministers should remove non-commodity energy costs for retailers, which are the charges and fees that make up a large portion of electricity bills for companies.“Other governments are already acting,” she added.“Germany has reduced electricity costs for businesses by moving levies off bills and EU leaders are actively discussing similar responses to this crisis.The UK should be moving in the same direction, not treating global instability as cover for inaction on costs of its own making.
”The Opinium survey suggested that the cost of living crisis would remain an important political issue beyond tomorrow’s local elections, and found that, of the 2,000 people polled, 81% were worried about rising energy bills, 76% about petrol and diesel and 68% about tax increases,All of those factors could contribute to rising grocery prices, with the Bank of England forecasting food inflation to rise to 7% by the end of the year because of higher fertiliser, energy and transport costs,Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 3,7% in the year to March 2026, according to official data, up from 3,3% the previous month.
Supermarket bosses met Reeves at the start of April to assess the Middle East conflict’s impact on the cost of living.Simon Roberts, the boss of Sainsbury’s, said more recently that limiting energy prices for retailers was “the single biggest thing the government should do to keep prices down”.Uncertainty continues in the Middle East, where Donald Trump’s promise to use warships to open a route through the strait of Hormuz for the hundreds of ships trapped in the Gulf brought the region back to the brink of full-scale war, as Iran sought to reassert its blockade.Research earlier this week found that food prices are on track to be 50% higher in November than at the start of the cost of living crisis in 2021.Climate and energy shocks have driven an almost quadrupling of the pace of food price growth, according to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit thinktank, with costs rising in five years at about the same rate as they had over the previous two decades.
Dickinson added: “Retailers are working hard to hold prices down, but they cannot do it alone.Every cost government chooses not to address is a cost that will find its way into someone’s shopping basket.That is a political choice, and it is one ministers still have time to change – but the window to act is closing.”A government spokesperson said: “We are acting to protect people from any potential increases in food prices.We have already suspended select food tariffs and continue to work closely with the sector to keep households bills down.
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Ascot’s bold move in turf war leaves racing fighting to avoid constitutional crisis
The racing industry is such a broad and varied collection of professions, venues and interests that at times it can feel like the Holy Roman empire: there is always a turf war or two going on somewhere, but never to such an extent that the whole thing falls apart.Ascot’s announcement on Monday that it will quit the Racecourse Association (RCA) at the end of the year, however, feels like more than just another localised dispute. The email dropped at 9am on a bank holiday, as if to underline that the king’s track means business, and where Ascot has led, others may follow, putting the future of a trade association that dates back to 1907 in serious doubt.The spark that lit the fuse, just two months ago, was Charles Allen’s departure as chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), after a brief and ultimately fruitless attempt to impose a modern governance structure, including a fully independent board of directors, on Britain’s second-biggest spectator sport.Ascot, along with the Jockey Club, which operates major tracks including Cheltenham, Aintree, Epsom and Newmarket, and also three key “big independent” tracks – Newbury, York and Goodwood – subsequently wrote to the RCA calling for “a formal governance review” of the Association, to ensure “significant views from key racecourses can influence outcomes”
Sabalenka believes players will boycott grand slams to ‘fight for our rights’
Aryna Sabalenka believes the top tennis players will boycott grand slam tournaments in an attempt to resolve their dispute with the four events, which they argue should provide players with a greater share of their growing revenues.“I think at some point we will boycott it, yeah,” said the world No 1 during her pre-tournament press conference at the Italian Open. “I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights.”Her comments come after a group of the top 20 male and female players released a statement criticising the prize money levels offered at the French Open, which begins this month. Sabalenka argued the players should be better compensated for their influence on tournament finances
London Marathon sets record after 1.8% of UK adult population applies for 2027 race
The London Marathon has set yet more records with organisers announcing that 1.8% of the UK adult population – more than one million people – have applied to run in next year’s race.Running’s boom wasreflected in a world record 1,338,544 global application for the 2027 London Marathon – up from 1.13m for this year’s race and more than double the amount they received in 2024.The extraordinary figures were welcomed by the London Marathon CEO, Hugh Brasher, who said: “This astonishing total of more than 1
Mercedes may have won again but Miami upgrades have shaken up the F1 grid | Giles Richards
The improved form of McLaren and Red Bull in Florida suggests the 2026 title race is likely to run and runThere is a long old way to go but after Formula One emerged from its enforced early season break with an entertaining romp around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, it indicated that there may yet be a decent tale to be told this season. One where Mercedes do not have it all their own way.Regulation changes dominated the buildup – of which more later because honestly paragraph two is too early to subject readers to the increasingly soul-destroying phrase “energy management” – but what really mattered in Miami was the sporting imperative of upgrades making a competitive difference.Mercedes had looked ominously strong with three straight wins in the opening three rounds before the five-week break caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi GPs. During that time there was no little beavering across the paddock on upgrades for Miami
RFU backs Steve Borthwick to lead England for 2027 World Cup after Six Nations review
Steve Borthwick and his coaching staff will remain in charge of England’s men despite the team’s worst Five or Six Nations for 50 years. The Rugby Football Union has opted to back Borthwick and his lieutenants through to the Rugby World Cup in Australia next year having completed what it described as “a detailed and robust review” of England’s latest campaign.Despite the team having lost four championship games in the same season for the first time since 1976, the RFU has chosen to keep faith with the Borthwick regime in the belief that things can only get better. The union has decided that sacking the head coach is not the optimal solution, having previously dispensed with Eddie Jones’s services nine months before the 2023 World Cup.“This has been a thorough and honest review, and it is clear that improvement will come from addressing several areas rather than chasing one simple answer,” said the RFU’s chief executive, Bill Sweeney, in a statement
The Breakdown | Rugby needs to stop the screen-obsessed, finger-pointing, hair-trigger arguments
Game is in danger of losing its integrity by howling about referees’ decisions and unedifying actions on the field under the notional banner of player welfareIt felt like a proper occasion in Bordeaux on Sunday. The trams were so jammed en route to the ground that the kick-off had to be delayed to allow spectators extra time to find their seats. For those who dismiss the notion of club rugby rivaling football for vibrant mass interest, here was a compelling counterpoint: a heaving 42,000-capacity stadium, off-the-scale passion, top-class sport in every respect.Later on, after the game was done, there was another revealing snapshot at the airport. As Bath’s beaten players headed for their flight home they were warmly applauded down to the gate by their travelling supporters
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