Rachel Reeves blamed for allowing 'opportunistic profiteering' on soaring petrol and diesel prices

By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2026-06-21 05:36:25 | Updated at 2026-06-21 12:19:05 6 hours ago

Experts have slammed Labour's inaction on fuel prices, with drivers still facing high petrol and diesel prices at the pumps as fuel costs remain expensive.

Data from RAC Fuel Watch shows that motorists are currently paying 54.45p per litre for their petrol and 173.76p for diesel on average across the UK.

With Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz again over the weekend, oil prices have fluctuated once again, which will have an knock-on effect for motorists around the country.

Over the last eight weeks, the price of Brent crude oil has fallen by 23 per cent, although experts have highlighted that drivers continue to face high prices as wholesale fuel prices haven't fallen as fast.

Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, urged the Government to introduce policies that would help drivers visiting the pumps who have struggled with high prices since March.

At the start of the conflict in the Middle East, both petrol and diesel prices across the UK were at least 20 per cent cheaper per litre than they are now.

While some organisations have forecast falling prices of unleaded and diesel in the near future, Mr Cox argued that savings were coming at a "snail's pace".

He noted that this was happening at a time when the fuel supply chain is "holding back on passing on wholesale price cuts to drivers".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and a fuel pump

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been accused of not going far enough to help drivers with fuel prices in recent months

Mr Cox continued, saying: "The Government has collected over £750million in additional VAT since the start of the Iran conflict, whilst drivers have had to pay an extra £4billion to fill up.

"Over 40 countries have helped their motorists with fiscal measures to ease the pain of rocketing pump prices. Rachel Reeves did nothing and continues to allow opportunistic profiteering in the fuel supply chain.

"Her amoebic approach to any signs of a sensible economic growth strategy, which should put the motorist at the heart of boosting the economy, continues at her usual ignorant pace."

It comes just weeks after Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a package of measures to protect hard-pressed motorists at the pumps.

Howard Cox Reform UK

Howard Cox has slammed Labour for failing to help petrol and diesel drivers at the pumps

| COX4LONDON

Labour confirmed that it would extend the 5p per litre fuel duty freeze until the end of the year, cancelling the planned reversal starting in September.

Original plans stated that the fuel duty cut would be reversed by 1p in September, 2p in December, before the final 2p was added back to the tax in March next year, before the new financial year.

The Chancellor said: "The war in Iran is pushing up fuel prices here at home, but after strong growth at the beginning of the year, I am stepping in to protect people at the pump."

GB News has rounded up the most expensive petrol and diesel prices across the UK this past week, using data from the Fuel Finder tool.

Fuel pump The CMA states that drivers could save £9 per tank when using the Fuel Finder tool | PA