Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the government will U-turn on its controversial cuts to winter fuel payments after considerable pressure from Labour backbenchers.
At PMQs the prime minister said he understood that pensioners were feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis and he promised to “ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments”.
Sir Keir said the government has needed to "stabilise the economy with tough decisions" after taking over from the Tories, and that the economy is starting to improve.
"We want to make sure people feel those improvements in their days as their lives go forward," he said.
"That is why we want to ensure that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments."
It comes after the prime minister came under increasing pressure on the issue in recent weeks, after it was seen as a key factor in Labour’s disastrous local election result at the start of this month.
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Key Points
- Starmer vows changes to winter fuel cuts
- Economic pain necessary to stabilise finances and cut interest, says Reeves
- Rayner ‘suggested tax raid on savers’ to Reeves ahead of spring statement
- Steve Reed: ‘Water nationalisation isn't the answer’
- Tories: Country paying the price for Labour failings
Starmer quickly corrects himself on ‘deportations’
12:32
,
Archie Mitchell
Sir Keir Starmer repeatedly highlights the fact Labour has removed 24,000 people from the UK “with no right to be here”.
The prime minister hopes it will win Labour support among those who lost faith in the Conservatives amid spiralling numbers of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.
He contrasts the figure with the handful of volunteers sent to Rwanda by the Tories at huge cost to the taxpayer.
But he was forced to quickly correct himself in the Commons after he initially referred to the “removals” as “deportations”.
The majority of the 24,000 figure is made up of people who left voluntarily, so were not technically deported.
Farage was the ‘first through the e-gates’, Starmer says
12:32
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Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent
Nigel Farage was the “first through the e-gates” under Labour’s post-Brexit reset deal with the EU, Sir Keir Starmer has joked.
After the Reform UK leader skipped a debate on the Brexit reset to flock off to France on holiday, the prime minister said “there was no sign of him”.
“He was first through the e-gates, somewhere in the south of France,” Sir Keir said.
Access to e-gates was a key part of the deal the UK has agreed with Brussels to forge closer post-Brexit ties.
In an awkward pun, he added: “Nice work if you can get it.”
Analysis | Why is Labour U-turning on winter fuel cuts?
12:20
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Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor
In a word – votes.
Keir Starmer has told MPs it is because the economy is beginning to improve – so the UK can now afford it.
But there is no doubt that Labour has come under intense pressure on this issue since it had such an effect on the party’s disastrous local election results at the start of this month.
No 10 is also facing a potential Labour rebellion next month when tough welfare cuts are due to be voted on in the House of Commons.
More than 100 Labour MPs have already signed a letter raising their concerns about the changes.
Focus groups of voters have also told Labour that it could forgiven for the winter fuel cuts - if there is a full or semi-U-turn. Effectively, it is not too late. As long as the government acts soon.
Analysis | Kemi Badenoch homes in on a pain point for Starmer
12:19
,
Millie Cooke, Political Correspondent
Kemi Badenoch has finally managed to hit a real pain point for Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs, pressing him on whether or not he will U-turn on winter fuel payments.
Just minutes earlier, the PM indicated he would row back on the policy – saying he wants to ensure more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.
But instead of accepting him at his word, the leader of the opposition is now pushing him on the issue, urging him to say – yes or no – whether he will do a full U-turn. Even though Sir Keir already appears to have made the admission, Badenoch’s approach is a sensible one.
“How can any of them ever trust him again”, she asked, playing into growing fears that the PM lacks principles.
Getting the prime minister to admit to a U-turn would be a victory for the Tories, allowing Badenoch to take credit for Labour’s shifting position and highlight what many voters and Labour MPs are already concerned about – that the PM lacks conviction and, in the Tory leader’s words “can’t give a straight answer to a simple question”.
Starmer: Economic turnaround makes winter fuel u-turn possible
12:18
,
Archie Mitchell
Sir Keir Starmer is painting the winter fuel payment u-turn as possible due to an economic turnaround spurred by Labour’s growth drive and trade deals with the US, India and EU.
The prime minister said he wants to make sure “people feel the benefit of the measures we are taking”.
“That is why I want to ensure more pensioners are eligible,” he added.
He said: “It is important that, as you would expect, that we are clear we can afford the decisions we are making. And that's why it will now be looked at at a fiscal event.”
It means the u-turn could come on 11 June at the chancellor’s spending review.
Tories left inflation ‘bang on target’, Kemi Badenoch says
12:14
,
Archie Mitchell
Kemi Badenoch has pounced on Wednesday’s jump in inflation, arguing the Conservatives left it “bang on target” at 2 per cent.
Echoed by shadow chancellor Mel Stride, the Tory leader said that despite reacting to the war in Ukraine, “inflation was brought down by us”.
She said: “While he is doing trade deals with countries like the US and India, their inflation is going down, it’s going up here, why?”
Sir Keir Starmer hit back by reminding MPs of the “disastrous Liz Truss mini budget, inflation through the roof and a £22 billion black hole in the public finances”.
Analysis: Kemi Badenoch picks the right topic (for once)
12:13
,
David Maddox, Political Editor
The beleaguered Tory leader has been much criticised for consistently missing the issues of the week in her six questions each week at PMQs.
But today, Kemi Badenoch has gone for the throat on the right topic. On a day when inflation has risen and amid revelations that Angela Rayner wants eight new tax rises, Ms Badenoch has plenty to shoot at.
Keir Starmer’s claim she “is talking the country down” rings a bit hollow.
For the leader of a party in fourth place in a recent poll, this is a rare good day for Ms Badenoch.
Analysis: One year on and Keir Starmer is still blaming the previous government
12:13
,
Millie Cooke, Political Correspondent
Sir Keir Starmer has answered both questions so far at PMQs by blaming the previous government – almost one year into his time in office.
Asked about illegal migration, the prime minister said it was the “last government that lost control”. Asked about inflation – which rose to 3.5 per cent this morning – he said the economy was “left in an absolute mess by the Tories”.
Labour has spent a majority of its time in office pointing to the Tories record, but one look at their current approval ratings shows that this approach isn’t landing with voters. It’s especially tricky on a topic like inflation, allowing the Tories – as Kemi Badenoch did in her first PMQs question – to point out that inflation had fallen to 2 per cent by the time they left office.
Starmer vows changes to winter fuel cuts
12:12
,
Jabed Ahmed
In a major announcement slipped out at the top of PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer vowed changes to his controversial winter fuel cuts.
After weeks of pressure, and a disastrous set of local election results, the prime minister promised to “ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments”.
Labour’s cuts, announced in July, left only those claiming pension credit eligible for cuts.
But, in a significant climbdown, it appears Labour is set to extend the eligibility for the payments, worth up to £300 for pensioners.
He said: “I recognise that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis, including pensioners, as the economy improves.
“We want to make sure people feel those improvements… and that is why we want to ensure that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.”
Analysis: First Tory question offers Starmer an open goal
12:06
,
David Maddox, Political Editor
The prime minister will have more difficult opening questions than the one by Tory MP Lewis Cocking.
The recently elected MP, one of the few to survive the Tory wipeout last year, asked Sir Keir Starmer when he will completely end illegal immigration.
It was a bit of a hostage to fortune given the infamous failure of multiple Tory prime ministers in a short space of time to “stop the boats”.
Not even threatening to send people to Rwanda had any effect.
Not surprisingly the prime minister reminded the House of all these failures as the glum Tory MPs looked on.
Starmer challenged over illegal migration
12:04
,
Archie Mitchell
The first question for Sir Keir Starmer, from Tory MP Lewis Cocking, was about whether he is going to stop “all illegal immigration into the UK”.
The prime minister was able to bat it off, accusing the Conservatives of having lost control of the borders in the first place.
He said: “We're bringing forward legislation to give law enforcement the greatest possible powers. What are they doing? They're voting against it.”
Starmer begins PMQs by paying tribute to firefighters killed in Bicester fires
12:03
,
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer has begun PMQs by paying tribute to the firefighters killed in the Bicester fire last Thursday.
Jennie Logan, 30, of Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, died in the major incident at Bicester Motion on Thursday alongside fellow firefighter Martyn Sadler, 38, and member of the public David Chester, 57.
Opening PMQs, the prime minister said: “My deepest condolences, and I'm sure those of the whole house are with the families and friends of Jenny, Martin and David tragically killed in the fire in Bicester last week.”
PMQs underway
12:01
,
Jabed Ahmed
Prime Minister’s Questions is now underway.
Kemi Badenoch is expected to question Sir Keir on his Brexit reset trade deal, announced on Monday.
She may also quiz Sir Keir on the reports that Angela Rayner sent a memo to Rachel Reeves suggesting an increase in taxes for savers.
Live: Starmer grilled on Brexit reset deal at PMQs
11:54
,
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer struggles to shake off pro-immigration past
11:51
,
Archie Mitchell
Sir Keir Starmer is desperate to shake his image as a pro-immigration left-wing human rights lawyer from north London - even going as far as to risk a major Labour rebellion by warning Britain is becoming “an island of strangers”.
He has been obsessively posting on social media about his plans to cut down on legal - and illegal - migration, in what many see as a bid to fend off Nigel Farage and Reform UK.
So the prime minister will be disappointed with the results of a YouGov poll showing more people believe he is pro-immigration than against it.
More than a third of the public believe Sir Keir is pro-immigration, with just over a quarter saying he is against it.
And, as he battles to win voters back from Mr Farage’s party, the poll showed that a whopping eight in ten Reform voters believe he is pro-immigration.
‘A generation betrayed’: government urged to scrap two-child limit amid rising poverty
11:46
,
Jabed Ahmed
More campaigners have hit out at Liz Kendall’s speech on benefit reforms.
Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: “The elephant in the room today was the two-child limit which is pushing child poverty to a new high on this government’s watch and leaving children without the life chances the Secretary of State wants for them.
“Unless the government scraps the policy in its forthcoming child poverty strategy, the number of kids in poverty will reach 5 million by the end of this parliament and a generation of children will have been betrayed.
“If ‘fairness, equality and opportunity’ are what matters to the Secretary of State, the two-child limit must be removed and ministers must step back from disability benefit cuts which can only mean more child poverty.”
Kendall fails to quell fury among disability groups
11:21
,
Archie Mitchell
Liz Kendall has doubled down on Labour’s controversial cuts to disability benefits, arguing they are necessary to stave off Reform and save the welfare state.
But the work and pensions secretary’s speech has only fuelled fresh outrage from campaigners.
Tom Marsland, head of policy at disability charity Sense, said: “Almost half of disabled people with complex needs are already in debt because their benefit payments don't cover the essentials, and the Government's own figures show these proposed reforms will push more people into poverty.
“We agree that the welfare system isn't currently working for disabled people - but increasing the number of disabled people in poverty will never be the solution.”
And Charlotte Gill, head of policy at the MS Society, said it is “disappointed by the government’s decision to double down on harmful benefits cuts in the name of cost saving”.
She added: “Removing this support will result in people being forced to leave work, lose their independence, or even be pushed into poverty. Disabled people should not be forced to shoulder the government’s savings whether in or out of work. We urge them to rethink and abandon these devastating cuts.”
Food bank demand up by half in five years as charity urges Labour to act
11:16
,
Jabed Ahmed
The Trussell Trust has revealed a stark increase in the number of emergency food parcels distributed across the UK, with a 51 per cent rise recorded over the past five years.
The charity delivered nearly 2.9 million emergency food parcels in the year to March 2025, a significant jump from the 1.9 million distributed in the year to March 2020. This surge has prompted urgent calls for government intervention and a reassessment of welfare reform policies.
Trussell has criticised the government's welfare reforms, labelling them a "harmful" policy choice contributing to the escalating reliance on food banks. The charity also cautioned the Labour party against a potential legacy of increased food bank dependency and child poverty.
Trussell chief executive Emma Revie said the government must make addressing hunger and hardship a priority as part of its overall plans to boost the economy, as she urged a rethink on welfare reforms.
Meanwhile, Trussell also called for local housing allowance to be unfrozen, arguing the freeze can have a major impact on the ability of those most in need to afford the essentials.
Full report | Rayner ‘suggested tax raid on savers’ to Reeves ahead of spring statement
11:01
,
Jabed Ahmed
My colleague Athena Stavrou reports:
Recap | Pressure mounts on Chancellor as inflation races to highest for more than a year
10:42
,
Jabed Ahmed
Inflation has rocketed to its highest level in more than a year after “awful April” bill rises, but pressure is also mounting on the Chancellor over the impact of Labour’s recent tax hike on the cost of living.
Official figures show Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation jumped to 3.5% in April, up from 2.6% in March and the highest since January 2024.
It comes after Ofgem’s energy price cap rose by 6.4% in April, having fallen a year earlier, alongside a raft of bill rises for under-pressure households – including the biggest increase to water bills since at least February 1988.
Households were also hit with steep increases across bills for council tax, mobile and broadband tariffs, as well as road tax.
But experts said inflation may also have been pushed higher as many firms responded to the Government’s move to raise national insurance contributions (NICs) and the minimum wage last month by increasing prices.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged her policies have “consequences” but insisted they are necessary to stabilise the economy.
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride blamed Labour’s “damaging” tax increase for the rise in inflation and said “families are paying the price for the Labour Chancellor’s choices”.
The Liberal Democrats also took aim at Labour, warning the cost of living could spiral out of control unless Ms Reeves reverses her decision to increase employer NICs.
Full report | Starmer poised to sanction top Israel ministers over Gaza crisis as pressure mounts for tougher UK action
10:26
,
Jabed Ahmed
Our Political Editor David Maddox reports:
Starmer urged to ‘deploy every tool’ to free jailed British activist
10:16
,
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer has been urged by more than 100 MPs and peers to “deploy every tool” to help free jailed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has been on hunger strike for over 80 days.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the cross-party group said the case was at a “vital stage” and action was needed to protect the health of both Mr Abd El-Fattah and his mother, Laila Soueif, who has also resumed a full hunger strike after consuming only liquid supplements since March.
Mr Abd El-Fattah, 43, has been imprisoned in Egypt since September 2019. He was sentenced in 2021 to five years for allegedly spreading false news, but MPs argue he is a political prisoner and should be released after serving his term.
The letter expresses concern over Mr Abd El-Fattah’s deteriorating health, with symptoms including vomiting, stomach pain, and blurred vision. It also highlights the worsening condition of his mother, who has been on hunger strike since September 2024 and has lost 42 per cent of her body weight.
Sir Keir previously raised the case with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in February, but MPs say there has been a lack of “concrete progress”.
They warn that failure to resolve the case could harm the UK-Egypt relationship and wrote: “If the health of Laila or Alaa is further damaged by this ordeal, this would have serious long-term implications.”
They concluded: “We urge you to deploy every tool at your Government’s disposal. Time is desperately short. We remain gravely concerned about the implications for Alaa’s family if a resolution is not found soon.”
Reform polling eight points higher than Labour, new poll shows
09:58
,
Jabed Ahmed
The latest poll from More in Common has put Reform UK support at 30 per cent – the highest ever.
Labour is trailing eight points behind at 22 per cent, while support for the Tories has gone up one point to 21 per cent.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer’s net approval rating is -38, while Kemi Badenoch is -25, according to More in Common.
Latest @Moreincommon_ voting intention. Reform hit 30% for first time in our polling, opening up an 8pt lead also their highest
— Luke Tryl (@LukeTryl) May 21, 2025
➡️ REF UK 30% (+2)
LAB 22% (-3)
CON 21% (+1)
LIB DEM 14% (nc)
GREEN 8% (nc)
SNP 2% (nc)
N = 2,090 | Dates: 16 - 19/5 |Change w12/5 pic.twitter.com/FY0yhlhX16
Live: DWP secretary Liz Kendall doubles down on £5bn welfare cuts
09:53
,
Jabed Ahmed
Union accuses government commissioners of ‘sabotaging’ bin-strike talks
09:39
,
Jabed Ahmed
The union at the centre of the long-running Birmingham bin strike has accused government commissioners of “sabotaging” talks aimed at resolving the dispute.
Members of Unite have been on all-out strike for more than two months in a row over pay and jobs, leading to bins piling up across the city.
The conciliation service Acas has been involved in talks since the start of the month, but the dispute remains deadlocked.
Unite said the talks set out a clear timeline for a discussed offer to be tabled by the council, but it claimed no offer has been made.
A ministry of housing, communities and local government spokesperson said: “It is simply false to suggest the commissioners, or the leader of the council have blocked attempts to resolve this deal, and we continue to urge Unite to suspend its strike action and both parties to reach agreement on a fair and reasonable offer.”
A council spokesman said: “The council remains committed to seeking a negotiated settlement to end the dispute.”
£5 billion welfare cuts needed to ‘save’ system, Kendall to say
09:27
,
Jabed Ahmed
The work and pensions secretary will stand firm on Labour’s £5 billion plans for welfare cuts on Wednesday, arguing that reform is needed to make sure the system survives.
Liz Kendall is expected to say there is a “risk” the welfare state would collapse without the proposed changes, which include tightening the eligibility criteria for the main disability benefit in England, the personal independence payment (Pip).
Restricting Pip would slash benefits for about 800,000 people, while the sickness-related element of universal credit is also set to be cut.
The package of measures is aimed at reducing the number of working-age people on sickness benefits, which grew during the pandemic and has remained high since.
The government hopes the proposals can save £5 billion a year by the end of the decade, and appears intent to press ahead with the plans amid mounting opposition.
Some 100 Labour MPs – more than a quarter of the party’s parliamentary numbers – are reported to have signed a letter urging ministers to scale back welfare cuts under consideration.
In a separate, earlier letter, 42 MPs said the cuts were “impossible to support”.
ICYMI | Ministers in talks over possibility of ‘reversing winter fuel payment cuts’
09:14
,
Jabed Ahmed
09:10
,
Jabed Ahmed
Rayner ‘suggested tax raid on savers’ to Reeves ahead of spring statement
09:03
,
Jabed Ahmed
Angela Rayner reportedly suggested reinstating the pensions lifetime allowance and changing dividend taxes in a memo to the chancellor with ideas to raise revenue.
The deputy prime minister sent the suggestions, in a document that estimated the changes could raise £3 billion to £4 billion a year, to Rachel Reeves in March ahead of the spring statement, The Telegraph reported.
The Chancellor has been adamant she will not turn to tax rises as part of the Government’s efforts to fund its policies.
There have been reports that Ms Rayner has been pushing back against spending cuts behind the scenes.
rayner Ms Rayner’s suggestions, in a memo titled “alternative proposals for raising revenue”, reportedly included reinstating the lifetime pensions allowance, which limited how much savers could put put in their pension pot before incurring a higher tax charge and was abolished under the Tories.
Ending the inheritance tax relief on shares for the Alternative Investment Market, raising the bank surcharge to 5%, and freezing the additional rate income tax threshold above £125,140 so more people would be dragged into a higher band were also among the proposals.
She also floated closing the commercial property stamp duty loophole and increasing the annual tax on enveloped dwellings, as well as raising rates on dividend taxes to bring them closer to income tax and removing the tax-free dividend allowance.
Full report | Disability claimants with back problems to lose most in Labour’s welfare changes
08:42
,
Jabed Ahmed
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Steve Reed: ‘Water nationalisation isn't the answer’
08:29
,
Archie Mitchell
Steve Reed has said he is “furious” about how Britain’s water companies are run, but stressed that “nationalisation isn't the answer”.
The environment secretary said the government is taking action to strengthen how the sector is regulated.
“But the public are furious. I'm furious at the fact that we have record levels of sewage polluting our rivers, lakes and seas under the previous government,” he told Times Radio
He added: “We are determined as a government to clean up our waterways.”
Asked about taking them into public ownership, he said: “The problems here are regulation and governance, not ownership. The Scottish Water Company is in the public sector, and they have similar problems with pollution. So we know that nationalisation isn't the answer. Nationalisation incidentally would cost over £100 billion."
Rising wages will help ease cost-of-living, says Reeves
08:18
,
Jabed Ahmed
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said rising wages would help ease the cost-of-living squeeze.
She told broadcasters: “For the last few months, wages have been rising at a faster level than prices.
“That is welcome, but I do absolutely get that the cost-of-living challenges are still the biggest concern that families up and down our country have, which is why we are taking action with the national living wage, with free breakfast clubs, with freezing fuel duty because I am determined, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, to help relieve some of that pressure that families have been facing.”
Economic pain necessary to stabilise finances and cut interest, says Reeves
08:13
,
Jabed Ahmed
Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged that her policies had “consequences” but insisted it was necessary to stabilise the economy.
Asked if the inflation figures had been pushed up by measures including the hike in employers’ national insurance, she said: “When I became Chancellor last year, I faced the very difficult challenge that there was a £22 billion black hole in the public finances.
“We had to fix that, and if we hadn’t have done the Bank of England would not have been able to cut interest rates four times this last year, which has obviously had a direct effect on the mortgages and the rents that people pay.
“And also that money that we raised from national insurance, but also cracking down on non-doms, tax – VAT – on private schools, increasing capital gains, particularly on private equity firms, that money has gone into our National Health Service, which is why waiting lists and waiting times are going down after spiralling out of control the last few years.
“So I do recognise that all policies have consequences, but if I hadn’t have acted to stabilise the public finances, we would be in a worse position today.”
Reeves: ‘Disappointed… but we will go further and faster’
07:42
,
Holly Evans
Rachel Reeves has said she is disappointed by the rise in inflation, but that the government will go “further and faster” in a bid to cut bills.
The chancellor said the UK is still “a long way” from double digit inflation seen under the Conservatives.“But I'm determined that we go further and faster to put more money in people's pockets,” she said.
She added: “That's why we have increased the minimum wage for millions of working people, frozen fuel duty to protect commuters and struck three trade deals in the past two weeks that will go towards cutting bills."
I know the cost of living is still weighing down on working people.
— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) May 21, 2025
That's why we have increased the minimum wage, frozen fuel duty and begun rolling out free breakfast clubs in schools.
But I’m determined we go further and faster to put more money in people's pockets.
Tories: Country paying the price for Labour failings
07:34
,
Holly Evans
The Conservatives have said the country is paying the price for Labour’s failings in government.
Responding to the inflation increase, shadow chancellor Mel Stride said the news was “worrying for families”.
He said: “We left Labour with inflation bang on target, but Labour’s economic mismanagement is pushing up the cost of living for families - on top of the £3,500 hit to households from the Chancellor's damaging Jobs Tax. Higher inflation could also mean interest rates stay higher for longer, hitting family finances hard.”
This morning's news that inflation has jumped to 3.5% – well above the 2% target – is worrying for families, and the Bank of England expect it to rise even further.
— Mel Stride (@MelJStride) May 21, 2025
We left Labour with inflation bang on target, but Labour’s economic mismanagement is pushing up the cost of living… https://t.co/qsPkgMcwe1
Environment secretary says inflation rise is 'disappointing'
07:18
,
Holly Evans
Cabinet minister Steve Reed acknowledged the rise in inflation was “disappointing”.
The Environment Secretary told Times Radio: “I recognise these are disappointing figures. I know how much people are struggling with the cost of living crisis, but no one said that this problem could be fixed overnight.
“And I think you have to look at these figures in the round, we’ve brought double-digit inflation way down now.
“We’re stabilising the economy. We’re putting money back in people’s pockets with an increase in the minimum wage that puts £1,400-a-year into the pockets of some of the lowest paid.
“We’ve seen fuel duty frozen. We’ve had four interest rate cuts in a row now, and for the first quarter of this year, we now have the fastest growth in the G7 so there’s a lot of positive information out there as well.”
Inflation soars to highest for more than a year on ‘awful April’ bill increases
07:17
,
Holly Evans
UK inflation surged to its highest level for more than a year last month after households were hit by a raft of “awful April” bill increases, official figures have revealed.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation hit 3.5% in April, up from 2.6% in March and the highest since January 2024.
Economists had been expecting a rise to 3.3% last month.
ONS acting director-general Grant Fitzner said: “Significant increases in household bills caused inflation to climb steeply.
“Gas and electricity bills rose this month compared with sharp falls at the same time last year due to changes to the Ofgem energy price cap.
“Water and sewerage bills also rose strongly this year, as did vehicle excise duty, which all pushed the headline rate up to its highest level since the beginning of last year.”
