Rachel Reeves risks seeing hospital visits restricted due to the fuel crisis, a major survey of 37,000 British drivers has warned.
It comes after rising petrol and diesel prices have been forcing households to make difficult choices, with essential spending under threat.
The FairFuelUK Fuel Price Crisis Survey found petrol prices have jumped around 10p per litre since the oil price turmoil began, while diesel has surged nearly 14p per litre.
The online poll, conducted via the PumpWatch Survey between March 5 and 14, collected responses from drivers across the UK.
Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, said urgent Government action is needed to ease the pressure currently impacting drivers across the UK.
“Rachel Reeves could calm inflationary pressure and protect the economy from recession by cutting fuel duty now and promising to scrap any increase in this regressive tax in the lifetime of this Parliament,” he said.
Mr Cox added: “British motorists face the highest fuel taxes in the world and deserve respite from the soaring costs of what is an essential resource. The economy needs a boost by increasing consumer spending and lowering costs for small businesses.
“This can be achieved by cutting fuel duty, removing the immorally levied VAT on fuel duty, and ensuring that pump pricing is fair, honest, and transparent through a PumpWatch with teeth.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has come under fire for failing to address the fuel crisis
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GB NEWS/PAThe survey revealed the real-life consequences of further fuel price rises. More than seven in 10 drivers said they would cut back on leisure activities, dining out, and hobbies.
Nearly 60 per cent said they would stop buying branded food products, and almost half said they would reduce the size of their weekly shop. Most alarmingly, 11.9 per cent said they could be forced to cut back on hospital treatment or medical appointments.
Higher fuel prices have also changed travel and work habits. Over 40 per cent said they would work from home more often, 37.7 per cent would use public transport more, and nearly a quarter would reduce visits to family and friends.
The survey also examined forecourt pricing practices. More than 43 per cent of drivers said they had noticed petrol stations raising prices on existing fuel stocks before wholesale costs increased.
Petrol and diesel prices have fluctuated wildly in recent months | PAThe majority of these drivers pointed to major oil brands, Shell, BP, Esso, and Texaco, as the worst offenders for steep and rapid price hikes.
Supermarket forecourts were generally seen as offering better value, though Asda and Tesco were noted for implementing some of the fastest price increases.
Meanwhile, over half of respondents said they would switch to supermarket petrol stations if prices continued to rise.
The call for Government action was clear. Almost 97 per cent of drivers want fuel duty cut by at least 10p per litre, and a similar number called for VAT to be removed from fuel duty to end what they see as double taxation.
Petrol and diesel prices peaked in the summer of 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine | PAA further 92.7 per cent supported the immediate implementation of the FairFuelUK PumpWatch scheme, including strong penalties for unfair pricing across the supply chain.
FairFuelUK, representing motorists, families, small businesses, and hauliers, said it has saved drivers more than £200billion in planned tax increases since 2010.
The group has previously received backing from organisations including Logistics UK, the RHA, and the RAC.
The survey paints a stark picture of pressure on British households. Without urgent action from the Treasury, families risk cutting back on essentials—from food and leisure to healthcare—while reshaping daily life to cope with rising fuel bills.
