Govt urged to slash fuel duty

Clamour for government intervention rises as forecourt prices hit new record highs

- FELIX PAGE

Urgent government action is being demanded as the price of petrol and diesel continues to rocket well past previous records, compounding the dramatic impact of the cost-of-living crisis for UK motorists.

On Wednesday last week, the nationwide average price of a litre of petrol surged past 187p and diesel topped the 193p mark- each having hit a new record high every day for the preceding month. As a result, the price of filling an average family car, with a 55-litre fuel tank, now exceeds £100.

Why is it happening?

Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, fuel prices were climbing steadily as suppliers rushed to cope with a post-pandemic surge in demand from the transport and industrial sectors, but it's the ongoing war in eastern Europe that's now having the greatest impact.