LABOUR’S planned fuel duty rise is to be phased in over six months from September, it has emerged.
But Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to perform a U-turn on the move — so he can honour his pledge to make voters feel better off this year.
Fuel duty will rise for the first time in 15 years when a temporary 5p cut is axed in September.
Costs will then go up at the pumps with a 1p a litre increase.
Prices will rise another 2p in December and a further 2p in March 2027.
The temporary cut was introduced by the Tories in 2022 when the invasion of Ukraine brought a spike in oil prices.
The Road Haulage Association warns that removing it will be a “hammer blow” for businesses and families.
But it is still due to come into force despite the Prime Minister ordering his Cabinet to focus on tackling the cost-of-living crisis this year.
Sir Keir has vowed to put money in people’s pockets as he tries to stop a Labour wipeout in May’s local elections.
Now, Nigel Farage has raised the stakes by pledging to reinstate the 5p fuel duty cut if his Reform UK gains power.
He told The Sun it was time to “end the war” on motorists.
Mr Farage said: “The Labour Government has opened another front in its war on Britain’s motorists.
“So much for Starmer’s promise to put more money in people’s pockets.”
It would cost £4billion a year to keep the cut as well as the policy of not increasing fuel duty in line with inflation.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves did maintain freeze fuel duty for a 15th historic year in November in a win for The Sun’s Keep It Down campaign.
A Treasury spokesman said: “With pump prices at their lowest since 2021, it’s right that we now gradually return to regular levels and focus on other cost-of-living support.”
WAR ON DRIVERS
By Nigel Farage, Reform Party leader
LABOUR has opened another front in its war on Britain’s motorists.
So much for Keir Starmer’s empty promise to put more money in people’s pockets.
Reform UK will reverse this 5p fuel duty rise. How will we pay for it? By ending welfare payments to foreign nationals, saving billions of pounds a year.
This is just part of our plans to cut soaring energy bills. Scrapping mad Net Zero targets and green subsidies will make homes and businesses better off.
Cutting energy costs, not overtaxing ordinary Brits, is the road to growth and prosperity.
