• Labour are planning to hike Fuel Duty for the first time in 15 years punishing drivers even as petrol prices surge.
• The Conservatives froze Fuel Duty for 14 consecutive years and have called on Labour to Axe the Fuel Duty.
This month in Parliament , Dr Neil Hudson MP voted to scrap the Chancellor’s incoming rise in fuel duty, following a Conservative-initiated debate and vote on the matter in the House of Commons tabled by Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch MP.
Dr Hudson has long opposed planned rises in fuel duty as Epping Forest’s Member of Parliament, ever since suggestions were being made that the Labour Government were planning to announce this in the Autumn Budget 2024.
He joined Parliamentary colleagues in signing a letter to the Chancellor prior to that Budget and the Autumn Budget 2025, led by Conservative MPs Saqib Bhatti and Lewis Cocking, urging her not to go ahead with this rise, warning of the harms to families, workers and businesses this rise could bring.
While the Conservatives voted to keep prices lower for motorists, over 250 Labour MPs voted to hike Fuel Duty, punishing drivers and pushing up the cost of living. Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats failed to vote at all on this motion.
Under Labour’s plans, every one of those drivers faces a triple hit at the pump: a 1p per litre rise in September 2026, a further 2p in December 2026 and another 2p in March 2027 – a total of 5p per litre.
This comes at the worst possible moment. Since start of March, petrol prices have already surged– driven by the conflict in the Middle East and rising global oil prices. Labour’s planned duty hike will deliver a painful double whammy for drivers already struggling.
Following that debate and vote, Dr Hudson said:
“Petrol prices are already surging – and Labour will make this even more difficult for Epping Forest’s motorists with this Fuel Duty hike.
“For 14 consecutive years, the Conservatives found the resources to freeze Fuel Duty. Labour have chosen instead to hammer Epping Forest’s motorists with this rise at what is already a difficult time for motorists.”
“The Chancellor of the Exchequer must listen to the people of Epping Forest and reverse this rise immediately.”
