KEMI Badenoch will today force a Commons vote on axing Labour’s 5p fuel duty hike on drivers.
The Tory leader last night slammed ministers as “disgusting” for ploughing ahead with their petrol price rise despite the ongoing energy crisis.
Sir Keir Starmer has refused to give certainty to motorists but instead vowed to review the situation in September when the current 5p cut is phased out.
Pump costs have risen to their highest levels in 18 months, with unleaded up 4.1p on Monday to hit an average of 140p per litre.
The 5p relief was first introduced by Rishi Sunak in 2022 amid rocketing oil prices after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Writing in The Sun today, Ms Badenoch says: “Only a Prime Minister as utterly hopeless and totally clueless as Keir Starmer would press ahead with a hike in fuel duty during an energy crisis.
“Drivers should not have to bear the brunt for Labour’s total economic incompetence. Especially when war is raging and forcing up the price of energy.”
Her Opposition Day vote today is not binding on the government but hopes to shame Labour MPs that either oppose it or abstain.
Tory analysis has found the 5p rise would add £156 to a family’s cost of filling up at the pumps Meanwhile, separate TaxPayers’ Alliance research has found a household would pay £40,000 in fuel duty over their lifetime if the hike goes ahead.
Rachel Reeves has frozen fuel duty for the 16th consecutive year following The Sun’s long-running Keep It Down campaign.
She is keeping the 5p hike under review, but refusing to bow to calls to scrap it now and claims it is unclear how long the war in Iran will last.
