Reeves to face MPs’ grilling over cost-of-living pressures – UK politics live

Chancellor to take Treasury questions amid market turbulence linked to Middle East conflict

As we mentioned in the opening post, Rachel Reeves is under pressure to cancel the planned increase in fuel duty due in September which will cause drivers to pay more for petrol and diesel as the government rolls back a temporary cut that was introduced in 2022 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At her budget last year, Reeves said the 5p cut would be unwound between September 2026 and March 2027, but the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have called for her to change course in light of the Israeli-US war with Iran which could cause immediate hikes in petrol pump prices. The Tories have promised to bring a vote on reversing the planned increase.

Rachel Reeves is planning to hike Fuel Duty for the first time in 15 years at the worst possible moment. Last week at the Spring Statement she knew full well that global instability was pushing oil prices up again.

Instead of helping families and businesses, she chose to pat herself on the back. Now motorists across the country face the double hit of rising petrol prices and higher fuel tax. This is Labour’s instinct: higher taxes and the wrong priorities. Labour must axe the Fuel Tax rise!