More than 150,000 drivers have signed a petition calling on the Government to introduce major changes to motoring taxes in the Autumn Budget next week.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will unveil the Government’s spending plans on Wednesday, November 26, which is expected to include further details about fuel duty rates.
The current rate of fuel duty has been frozen since 2011, while a 5p per litre cut was introduced in 2022 and has been maintained ever since.
Although the Government has pledged to extend the five pence reduction until March 2026, there are fears that it could be targeted in next week’s Budget.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have warned that tough decisions will need to be made in the Budget as the Government grapples with growing costs.
On Tuesday, the day before the Budget, Lewis Cocking MP will lead a group of MPs and campaigners to 10 and 11 Downing Street to deliver a petition.
More than 152,000 signatures have been collected to call on the Chancellor to cut or keep fuel duty frozen in the Budget to protect motorists.
The FairFuelUK petition found that, of those who voted for Labour in the 2024 General Election, 54.7 per cent believe fuel duty should be cut.
More than 150,000 drivers have called on the Government to cut or keep fuel duty at the same rate
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PA
Almost a quarter say that fuel duty should remain frozen, while 11 per cent said the Government should scrap the fuel tax.
Only 6.7 per cent said the rate of fuel duty should be raised to boost receipts from sales of petrol and diesel as more drivers switch to electric cars.
With more drivers switching to electric cars, fuel will be sold less, potentially leaving Labour with a huge £25billion black hole from fuel revenue.
Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, said keeping fuel duty frozen would be “one of the best fiscal stimuli for this unpopular Government’s chances of restoring faith in its leadership”.
He added: “In contrast, hiking it could be the final political blow in Labour’s succession of self-inflicted disasters.
“Fuel duty has remained frozen for the past 15 years, currently standing at 6p below its level when the Labour Party was last in power.
“This has been of immense benefit to Britain’s motorists and has significantly strengthened the Treasury’s finances by reducing inflationary pressure.”
The latest data from RAC Fuel Watch shows that drivers are paying an average of 135.32p for petrol and 144.91p for diesel.
While the RAC has not forecast any changes to fuel prices in the future, any changes announced in the Budget could do this, especially if the freeze is removed.
A Government spokesperson said: “Fuel duty covers petrol and diesel, but there’s no equivalent for electric vehicles.”
It noted that a “fairer system” of motoring taxation should be introduced to ensure all motorists are paying to use the roads.
Speaking to GB News, a Treasury spokesperson said any fiscal changes would be announced by the Chancellor in the Budget next week.