Fears Labour could hit millions of drivers at the pumps as the party looks to plug the fiscal black hole in its election spending pledges

Millions of drivers could face an extra hit at the pumps Work There are fears that it appears that the black hole in the election promises can be closed.

The party has refused to rule out an increase in fuel duty and consulted sources close to the Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the Daily Mail that ‘we’re not going to make any commitments’ when asked whether Labor would continue to freeze the levy.

In contrast, the party yesterday made a rock-solid ‘triple-lock’ pledge that it will not increase income tax, national insurance and social security. VAT.

It has raised fears that Labor will increase tax revenue in other ways, with reports last week suggesting Ms Reeves was looking at 10 to 12 options in a possible emergency autumn budget.

The Tory The government has frozen the fuel tax escalator for fourteen years Rishi Sunak he also cut it by 5 cents per liter in March 2022 when he was chancellor to ease the burden on families during the cost of living crisis.

The party has refused to rule out a rise in fuel duty and sources close to shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves told the Daily Mail that ‘we’re not going to make any commitments’ when asked whether Labor would continue to freeze the levy.

In contrast, the party yesterday made a rock-solid ‘triple-lock’ commitment that it will not increase income tax, national insurance or VAT.

According to analysis, the successive freezes have collectively been worth at least £80 billion to drivers.

If Labor were to effectively reverse the 5p cut, which expires in March 2025, and allow the fuel tax roll to rise with inflation, it would initially add around £100 a year to petrol bills.

Asked whether a Labor government would maintain the Tory freeze, a source close to Ms Reeves said: “We have previously supported the fuel duty freeze.

“But we are not going to make any commitments without saying where the money will come from.”

Former minister Theresa Villiers, who is defending her Chipping Barnet seat, said: ‘Labour takes every opportunity to bash drivers. They did this in Wales with general speed limits of 30 km/h and in London with the extension of Ulez.

‘Fuel duties kept rising under Labor when they were last in power. Now it looks like they’re going to do it all again.’

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘As sure as the sun rises and sets, Labor will raise taxes.

Fears have grown that Labor will increase tax revenue in other ways, with reports last week suggesting Ms Reeves was looking at 10 to 12 options in a possible emergency autumn budget.

If Labor were to effectively reverse the 5p cut, which expires in March 2025, and allow the fuel tax roll to rise with inflation, it would initially add around £100 a year to petrol bills.

‘Fuel duty is clearly going up because Labor is generally not pro-car. They sell this as a ‘green’ tax that many drivers cannot afford.

“So we know it’s a lie when they say they’re not going to raise taxes on working people.”

A poll by the FairFuelUK campaign group found that six in 10 drivers believe Labor will increase fuel duty after the election, while only a fifth say they think the party will freeze fuel duty.

It comes after Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer struggled to dismiss accusations that his spending plans contain a £38 billion black hole during a TV election debate with Mr Sunak last week.

The Prime Minister highlighted the Treasury analysis which showed the gap is the equivalent of more than £2,000 per household compared to the next parliament.

Labor claims the analysis is a ‘lie’ and not independent because Tory advisers played a role in the calculations.

An increase in fuel duty could be used to help pay for Labour’s ‘green’ energy plans, including decarbonising the entire electricity network by 2030.

The Prime Minister highlighted the Treasury analysis showing the gap, the equivalent of more than £2,000 per household in the next parliament.

The party also wants to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, meaning an increase could help pay for infrastructure such as electric vehicle charging points.

It is not the first time that Labor has been accused of wanting to punish motorists. London Mayor Sadiq Khan sparked anger last August by extending his ultra-low emissions zone, which charges drivers of older vehicles £12.50 a day, to cover the whole of Greater London. The Tories have promised to reverse this if they win the election.

Labour-run Wales has reduced thousands of kilometers of 50 km/h roads to 30 km/h and it is mainly the party-run councils that are behind the low-traffic restrictions.

Fuel duty, which stands at 52.95 pa-litres, is supposed to rise annually in line with inflation but has been frozen by successive Tory chancellors since 2011.

Average pump prices are 147.05p for petrol and 152.55p for diesel.