FairFuel UK has accused the government of being ‘clueless in reducing the pain of the crippling cost of living crisis’
Drivers have been warned about potential chaos on the roads on Monday (July 4) as protests are planned over the price of fuel.
One of the biggest demonstrations is set to take place across the country, with protests from motorists planned in Yorkshire, M54, Essex, M5, A63, M180 and other major roads across the UK, according to FairFuelUK.
They have warned that protests could become more frequent in coming months
Howard Cox, the founder of the FairFuelUK campaign, said: “These are not just demonstrations against the record excruciatingly high petrol and diesel prices that rise each and every day.
“They are also about the sickening chronic manipulation of pump prices and the complete lack of scrutiny by our out-of-touch Government, in allowing unchecked petrol and diesel profiteering to run rife.
“And at the same time, this allegedly self-proclaiming low taxation Conservative Government is wallowing in £3billion of extra VAT in just the last year alone.
“All due to these record unaffordable prices.
“They continue to be in denial, a state of torpor and seem clueless in reducing the pain of the crippling cost of living crisis.”
According to FairFuelUK, the cost of petrol and diesel has not gone down at the pump despite wholesale prices dropping.
Despite wholesale prices falling by 14.9p per litre, the pump price soared by 17.4p.
They argue that petrol prices would be around 170p per litre instead of the current 191p if the wholesale fall had been passed on to drivers.
Mr Cox added: “With UK petrol prices currently 20p more than the average across 35 European countries and diesel 25p more, Rishi Sunak must cut Fuel Duty by at least 20p and introduce PumpWatch before the economy is ruined even more.
“There are so many evidential examples of obvious pump price exploitation in the last 20 years, but during Covid years and since the onset of the Ukrainian crisis, the big fuel supply chain businesses have reached the lowest of lows in ripping off UK drivers at will.”
It comes after the AA claimed drivers were “being taken for fools” with pump prices.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “Drivers are being taken for fools by retailers as the cost of fuel continues its worryingly upward trend.”
He appealed to the government to implement an additional 10p cut in duty which will “not only help ease the pressure at the pumps but keep prices in supermarket aisles down too.”
Related links:
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- Brit with world’s smallest car avoids soaring fuel prices as his vehicle costs just £7 to fill up
- Petrol prices hit record highs amid fuel crisis – so one man fills up car with vegetable oil
