Hold onto your steering wheels, petrolheads! It seems like The Sun newspaper has been burning rubber for the last 15 years, saving UK motorists a whopping £120 BILLION by campaigning to keep fuel duty down. That’s enough dosh to make even Elon Musk blush.
Can you believe it? This epic freeze on fuel duty, first championed by The Sun back in 2010, has reportedly amassed savings greater than the ENTIRE schools budget. Talk about putting your money where your mouth (and your petrol tank) is!
According to number crunchers at the Office for Budget Responsibility, officials have been playing a game of chicken with duty hikes for a sweet 16 years in a row. And just when you thought the pump prices might bankrupt you, along comes a hero!
Chancellor Rachel Reeves' most recent Budget extended the freeze for another five months, stretching all the way to September 2026. Phew! But don't get too comfy just yet...
Word on the street (or rather, the motorway) is that the temporary 5p cut brought in by Rishi Sunak back in 2022 will eventually be "unwound in a staggered approach." Translation: the cheap thrills won't last forever.
Adding insult to (almost empty) fuel tanks, pump prices have been stubbornly creeping up, even though wholesale costs took a nosedive almost two weeks ago. What gives?
As it stands, petrol has climbed to an average of 137.5p per litre – the highest it’s been since mid-March. And diesel? A painful 146.9p per litre. Ouch!
And here's a fun fact to add to your road trip woes: drivers are facing a postcode lottery, with prices varying by up to 9p a litre between neighboring towns, according to data from the AA. Time to shop around, folks!
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden is singing The Sun's praises from the rooftops, declaring, "It’s The Sun wot’s kept winning it for drivers for fifteen years!" Blimey!
Holden is also urging Rachel Reeves to "think again" about slapping more taxes on drivers, especially since Labour seems dead-set on reversing that 5p/litre fuel duty cut come September. The plot thickens!
During the Budget speech, the Chancellor acknowledged that "the cost of travelling to and from work is still too high," hence the extension of the 5p cut until September 2026.
But wait, there's more! Recognizing that those wholesale price changes aren't always making their way to the pump, the Chancellor is introducing new rules to force forecourts to share real-time prices through a "Fuel Finder."
This new "Fuel Finder" aims to empower drivers to sniff out the cheapest fuel, expose those rip-offs, and boost competition. The projected savings? A cool £40 a year for the average household.
Speaking of driving laws, have you kept up with all the UK driving law changes? Stay safe out there!
And for those who enjoy a tipple during the festive season, it might be wise to consider Breathalysers being fitted in UK cars. Millions may risk a ban this Christmas.
But that's not all for motoring news: An iconic small hatchback is crowned BEST used car for families. Who knew?
Looking to the future, the rumour mill is spinning with news that a legendary hatchback is to be brought BACK from the dead. And it will be just as cheap!
Lastly, nine retro cars Brits are snapping for mega profit. Including a £1k turbo hero!
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