How high will Starmer let fuel prices climb? Politics Petrol station forecourts were gripped by panic buying, industry groups warned of the crippling economic impact, supermarkets began rationing bread and milk, hospitals were cancelling appointments, schools closed, the army was on standby and Labour ministers appeared on the brink of losing control of the country. That was just over 25 years ago, when truckers [...]
White van men ‘bleeding cash’ in Iran war diesel chaos Retail The country’s fleet of tradesmen are “bleeding cash,” with the Iran war’s fuel chaos pushing the price difference between petrol and diesel to its widest level in decades. A litre of diesel cost 179.9p on Sunday on average – up more than 35p since the Iran war started and 25p higher than petrol, according to [...]
‘No need to take action’ on fuel duty, says Labour minister Economics A Labour cabinet minister has pushed back against rallying calls for the government to hand petrol retailers some reprieve, stating there is “no need” to axe the planned hike in fuel duty. Education secretary Bridget Bridget Phillipson said on Sunday the government would “take a view closer to the time” on whether to press ahead [...]
Fuel duty rise ‘under review’ as Iran war response sparks tensions March 11, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has said a rise in fuel scheduled for September is “under review” hours after Rachel Reeves hinted an energy support package could be drawn up. Starmer said fuel duty would remain frozen until September and the policy would be kept “under review in light of what’s happening in Iran” when he was [...]
Pensions, motorists and workers: The tax targets Rachel Reeves is eyeing up November 7, 2025 If there is one thing that is clear three weeks out from the Autumn Budget, it is that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will hike taxes. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which scores the economic impacts of the government’s policies and publishes forecasts on public finances, has been questioned for being over optimistic on measures such [...]
Why UK petrol and diesel prices are still sky high despite recent fall November 28, 2024 The price of petrol and diesel in the UK fell between June and October 2024 but the margin retailers are making from each visit to the pump has surged. According to new figures from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) fuel prices decreased in the period because, in part, of the changing crude oil prices [...]
Autumn Budget 2024: Fuel duty frozen as hike would be the ‘wrong choice’ October 30, 2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has declared a rise in fuel duty in 2025 would be the “wrong choice” as she pledged to continue the freeze and maintain the temporary 5p cut for another year. In her first Budget, Reeves told MPs that to retain the 5p cut and freeze fuel duty again would cost more than [...]
What will Labour do about green taxes? August 27, 2024 With net zero a key plank of the new government’s agenda, what can we expect on environmental taxes in the Budget? Asks Sharon Baynham We have a £22bn black hole in the public finances. Who knew! Well, anyone who dared to look according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The blame game has already started [...]