Nigel Farage defends petrol and diesel drivers amid plans to 'shame' Rachel Reeves over fuel duty cut

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called on the Government to axe fuel duty to protect petrol and diesel drivers at the pump amid soaring oil prices stemming from tensions in the Middle East.

Although the price of oil has fallen over the last 24 hours, road users are still experiencing soaring fuel prices at the pumps as a result of the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.

Motorists are currently facing prices of 137.51p per litre for petrol and 150.97p for diesel, with RAC Fuel Watch predicting that costs were "likely to rise" in the near future.

To help drivers struggling at the pumps, Nigel Farage is expected to pledge to reinstate the 5p fuel duty cut if Reform UK are voted into power in the next election.

Reports from The Sun state that this will be done by slashing £13.5billion in net zero savings from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Mr Farage is expected to deliver the demands to the Labour Government and Chancellor Rachel Reeves at a press conference later today.

He said: "We will spend the next few months trying to shame Rachel Reeves into cancelling [the 5p fuel duty cut].

"But if she doesn't - whether because she's running scared of the Greens or in hock to her far-left backbenchers - then Reform will reverse it in our first budget."

READ MORE: Rachel Reeves provides major update on soaring petrol and diesel prices amid calls for fuel duty cut

The previous Conservative Government introduced a 5p per litre cut to the rate of fuel duty in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which sent global fuel prices soaring.

Labour has continued to extend the fuel duty pledge in recent years, although it confirmed that it would roll back the measures over the next 18 months.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in the Autumn Budget that the fuel duty cut would be reversed by 1p on September 1, 2026, 2p on December 1, 2026 and 2p on March 1, 2027.

The Chancellor also confirmed that the planned inflation increase for 2026-2027 would not take place, although fuel duty rates will rise with inflation from April 2027.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Congestion charge fears across UK city prompts huge campaign as drivers face eye-watering daily fee
• E.ON announces price update for homeowners with electric car chargers impacting thousands
• Countdown to Rachel Reeves' new car taxes commences as petrol and diesel drivers given weeks to prepare

Speaking in the Commons yesterday, the Labour MP for Leeds West and Pudsey said measures taken by the Government had lowered petrol costs by more than 8p per litre compared to plans Labour inherited at the election.

Ms Reeves added that the Government's Fuel Finder tool was being rolled out for motorists, with 90 per cent of forecourts already providing data to the scheme.

MORE TO FOLLOW...