Starmer's Cost-of-Living Adviser Calls for 5p Fuel Duty Cut Extension
Lord Richard Walker, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's cost-of-living adviser, is urging the government to extend the current 5p fuel duty cut. Walker says the cut should stay in place because war in the Middle East has pushed up oil and gas prices.
Lord Richard Walker, who serves as Sir Keir Starmer's cost-of-living champion, is calling on the government to extend or even expand the current 5p fuel duty cut. Walker, who is also the executive chair of supermarket chain Iceland, says rising tensions in the Middle East justify keeping the cut in place.
Diesel prices have jumped 30% since February as the Middle East crisis has deepened, driving oil prices higher. The current 5p fuel duty reduction was implemented to help drivers cope with rising costs, but it's set to expire unless the government takes action.
Walker specifically pointed to the war involving Iran as a key factor pushing up energy costs for British consumers. Fuel duty is a tax the government adds to every liter of gasoline and diesel sold in the UK.
The cost-of-living adviser's recommendation comes as households continue to face pressure from higher prices on essentials like fuel and heating.
Fuel prices directly affect how much you pay to fill up your car and heat your home. If the government lets the fuel duty cut expire, drivers could pay 5p more per liter at gas stations when prices are already rising due to global conflicts.
The government will decide whether to extend the fuel duty cut in upcoming budget decisions.
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