Drivers 'face paying 180p a litre for diesel by next week' as Rachel Reeves ducks calls to axe planned duty hike
Drivers have been warned they face paying 180p a litre for diesel by next week as the Middle East chaos hits home.
The RAC said the average pump price for diesel was now 173.83p a litre, up 3p on yesterday and 31.5p since Donald Trump launched the war on Iran.
Meanwhile, petrol has risen by 15.7p to 148.55p a litre over the same period.
The cost of filling up a family car with diesel could by close to £100 next week, while 150p a litre petrol would leaving people paying £82.50 a tank.
The grim figures came as Rachel Reeves ducked calls to scrap an increase in fuel duty planned for September.
In a Commons statement, the Chancellor said the policy was being kept under 'review' amid the Middle East fallout - but refused to make any commitments.
Ms Reeves pledged to tackle 'rip-off' prices, arguing that the Fuel Finder app would allow motorists to find the best garages near them.
Iran has responded to the US-Israeli attacks by closing the crucial Strait of Hormuz - through which around a fifth of the world's oil supplies normally pass.
The grim figures came as Rachel Reeves ducked calls to scrap an increase in fuel duty planned for September
The benchmark Brent Crude cost has been oscillating wildly in recent days as Mr Trump swings between bombing Iran and suggesting he wants to end the war.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said today: 'The average price of diesel has jumped by nearly 3p a litre since yesterday to 173.83p.
'This means it's now gone up 31.5p since 28 February, a 22 per cent increase. Petrol also shot up by 1.4p to 148.55p a litre, its biggest daily increase since 3 March. Petrol has now risen 15.7p a litre, or 11.8 per cent.
'Diesel looks likely to break the 180p-a-litre mark in the next week or so, and if it goes on to reach 182p the price of a tank for a family car would breach £100.
'If petrol climbs to 150p, as seems inevitable, it will take the cost of a fill-up to £82.50.'
In the House, Ms Reeves batted away calls for more North Sea oil and gas exploration, instead of importing fossil fuels from abroad.
She stressed the Government is encouraging investment in North Sea oil and gas tiebacks – satellite wells to exploit existing fields.
Outside of Parliament, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'It's completely crazy to be increasing fuel duty at this time, and let's drill our own oil and gas in the North Sea.'
She also criticised the Government for failing to prepare for the Middle East crisis.
'Keir Starmer has been caught with his pants down, not being prepared, not knowing what's coming, not having any answers except sticking his head in the sand.'
