Hard-pressed drivers ‘MUST be spared fuel duty hike as tensions in Middle East push up global oil prices'
DRIVERS must be spared a fuel duty hike as tensions in the Middle East push up global oil prices, MPs have warned.
New figures show petrol prices rose to 132.1p a litre yesterday, threatening to end a three-and-a-half month run of falls.
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Wholesale costs have already surged 3p a litre in a week and are still rising.
The AA says the spike is being fuelled by conflict between Israel and Iran plus surging demand from the US summer motoring season.
Now fears are growing Chancellor Rachel Reeves could look to scrap the 5p duty cut to shore up the public finances.
Tory MP Saqib Bhatti said: 'As she struggles to make her accounts balance, Rachel Reeves needs to be clear she won't be hammering motorists to fill the black hole that she has created.'
Labour MP Graeme Downie added: 'The Chancellor said in the spending review she wanted to do everything she can to keep money in people's pockets.
'At a time of volatility, that means keeping fuel duty as low as possible.'
The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty since 2011.
A Treasury spokesman said: 'Our Plan for Change is putting more money in the pockets of working people.
'We extended the fuel duty cut this year, saving drivers £3billion.'
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