Fuel duty fears as Jeremy Hunt refuses to commit to keeping freeze
DRIVERS have been put on notice that the fuel duty freeze may be abandoned next year.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he will “look at that decision again” in the run-up to the next election.
The Treasury will assess the state of the public finances ahead of the Spring Budget early next year before making a decision.
The budget watchdog forecasts for fuel duty rising at 1p above inflation and keeping the cut will squeeze Whitehall budgets further.
A temporary 5p cut was introduced last year and kept this year but is set to be reversed from next March unless action is taken.
Jeremy Hunt said in March that he wanted to help hard-pressed drivers helping them save cash amid the cost of living crisis.
But speaking to MPs on Wednesday, he said: “I was very pleased we were able to roll it over this year. And we will look at that decision again in the run-up to the spring budget.”
He added: “I’m afraid you will have to wait until the spring budget before I’m able to answer that question.”
He said the freeze was “something that is not a permanent measure”.
Treasury Select Committee chair Harriett Baldwin asked whether the next budget would be before March 23 or if the 5p cut would be allowed to lapse.
Mr Hunt added: “I don’t like temporary reliefs. I think it’s something that is permanent and should be described as permanent. That is a temporary relief.
“And we will make a decision on that when we have the spring budget, the date for which has not been decided.”
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Howard Cox, founder of FairFuel UK, said: “Chancellor after Chancellor have consistently been clueless on making our economy grow.
“Jeremy Hunt is no exception. He still sees tax hikes as the way to maintain his huge public service monolith. Hiking fuel duty is not only political suicide it’s economic Armageddon.
“The world’s highest taxed drivers continue to be seen as pure cash cows instead of being the very solution to lowering inflation, increased consumer spending and more growth tax revenue.”