Drivers beg Rachel Reeves not to bring in new 5p | Tech News

Motorists are begging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to not go forward with petrol and diesel price rises which they are saying may value households “billions”. The Road Haulage Association (RHA), the commerce physique for HGV, LGV, and coach drivers, has demanded fuel responsibility charges ought to not rise in the Autumn Budget subsequent Wednesday.

According to campaigners, growing charges would have a “significant impact” on living costs for workers across the sector who are already being “squeezed” with rising costs. Rachel Reeves has been tipped to scrap the 5p per litre fuel duty reduction introduced by the Conservatives in 2022. It would be the first increase to fuel duty fees in almost 15 years, with bills frozen or cut every year since 2011.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, the RHA said: “Increasing fuel duty would have a significant impact on the cost-of-living. Our research shows a 5p increase in fuel duty would cost UK households £7.3bn over the course of the Parliament from increased consumer prices and fuel costs. 

“The haulage and logistics industry – who work all hours making sure our homes, hospitals and shops stay stocked – have been squeezed for years with rising costs which have seen record levels of haulage firms go bust. It is vital that the freeze on fuel duty is maintained to support the road transport industry and help with the cost-of-living.”

The 5p cut is already scheduled to expire in March 2026 unless Reeves acts to extend the freeze in her statement next week. Previous estimates have suggested that allowing the 5p cut to expire could secure the Treasury £10 billion over the next four years.

However, the move is likely to be unpopular with petrol and diesel car owners, which still make up the majority of motors on UK roads. Experts at the AA have warned fuel bills could reach historical highs if Rachel Reeves presses ahead with plans to increase duty rates by 5p. 

They have predicted that petrol prices would average 142.2p a litre for petrol and 150.6p for diesel. This would leave fuel costs just below the record of 142.5p a litre for petrol and 147.9p a litre for diesel which was last seen back in April 2012.

Iain Reid, Head of Editorial at Carwow mentioned: “If the Chancellor decides to scrap the fuel duty freeze, many drivers will see it as yet another cost added to the already high price of running a car. 

“For those who rely on their vehicles for work, family, or everyday life, that could hit particularly hard.”