Fuel duty is set to be one of the biggest talking points in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget with uncertainty over the future of petrol and diesel fees.

Motorists could well face a fuel duty increase meaning petrol and diesel owners across the country will pay more to top up.

The Government introduced a 5p cut in fuel duty fees back in May 2022 as the cost of living crisis took hold.

This was maintained last year but as things stand the discount will be axed in March meaning fees will rise from their current 52.95p per litre.

Despite being a temporary cut, returning to the previous 57.95p charge will now be seen by many as a price rise.

This could be disastrous for the Conservative Party trying to win back disgruntled voters on the eve of a General Election.

Last autumn, Treasury officials reportedly put pressure on the Chancellor to hike fuel duty fees for the first time in more than a decade.

Rates have remained frozen since 2011 which has saved drivers hundreds of pounds every year in added charges.

Keeping them at their current levels would be a boost to drivers and is a likely scenario given the Government’s recent plans to end anti-car measures.

The recent ‘Plan for Drivers’ highlighted the lack of extra fees and the 5p cut as a way they were responding to drivers’ priorities and helping motorists with the cost-of-living crisis.

The report reads: “There has been no increase in the main fuel duty rate since January 2011. In March 2023, the rates of fuel duty were maintained for another year, by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut and cancelling the planned inflation increase for 2023 to 2024.

“The current cut along with the inflation freeze represents a saving for households and businesses this year of overall around £5billion, and £10billion over the two years following the introduction of the cut.”

However, some campaigners have demanded even more action by reducing fuel duty fees across the board.

Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK suggested he would like to see fees axed by up to 20p which would provide a major boost to the economy.

Earlier this week, he told GB News: “I just think come on let’s go for it. I think let’s go further, cut it by 20p.

“That’s right 20 pence per litre, do it for six months and see what it does to not only the economy, because it would actually blossom beyond belief if we did have that cut in fuel duty. But more importantly it would deliver votes for the Tories.”

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Post source: Express