Andy Burnham has been blasted by campaigners over Labour’s petrol and diesel fuel plan after a European neighbour took decisive action. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has decided to introduce a temporary cut in excise duties on diesel costs after concerns over soaring energy costs.
Officials have decided to lower the price of diesel by 17 euro cents per litre (14p), with the measure in place until August 6. The new plan will cost Meloni €125 million as it includes tax breaks for truck drivers and farms.
The measure will be a welcome boost to cash-strapped road users in the country, but no such policy has been announced in the United Kingdom. The lack of action from Burnham and Chancellor John Healey has been questioned by Howard Cox, founder of the leading campaign group FairFuelUK.
Howard said: “This fiscally short-sighted Government, under Andy Burnham, and following Keir Starmer’s tenure, continues to show a deliberate reluctance to support drivers or ease business transport costs by cutting fuel duty.
“Other European countries have recognised the critical role of fuel prices in containing inflation and supporting economic activity. Why does Labour refuse to do the same? The answer is clear: in Labour’s political DNA, the motorist remains an easy source of revenue rather than the commercial heartbeat of the economy.
“Their approach is firmly anti-driver and risks holding back recovery, when targeted relief could help both households and businesses.”
The current default is that fuel duty will rise by as much as 3p per litre in January and 2p in March, reverting the previous 5p cut introduced by the Conservatives in 2022.
However, HM Revenue and Customs has previously explained that the Government will confirm final rates at the 2026 Budget, meaning it is up to the new Chancellor to decide if the current price should remain.
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