By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-25 16:00:41 | Updated at 2026-09-25 16:53:56
58 minutes ago
Reform UK has warned Donald Trump his diesel ban will "hammer millions of working people".
The US President is said to be drawing up plans to stop diesel being sent overseas - and could announce the plans in mere days.
Although the White House dismissed the rumours as "fake news", but European diesel has already started to rise.
Now, Robert Jenrick, the party's economic spokesman, penned a letter to Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, beg him to dial back the "big mistake".
Urged the US Treasury to exempt Britain from the ban, Mr Jenrick said: "Instead of wasting leverage begging Trump to approve the Chagos surrender, Burnham should do everything to stop a diesel ban to the UK.
"So far he hasn’t raised it. So I have."
The letter reads: "I am writing to urge you against this course of action. It would be a big mistake for both the United States and the United Kingdom."
Mr Jenrick blamed "decades of misguided energy policy" for Britain's tumbling domestic refining capacity.
Robert Jenrick has warned Scott Bessent against the 'big mistake'
PA
Last year, refineries shut at both Grangemouth and Lindsey, forcing Britain to import around half of the diesel used.
"Of this, the United States supplies roughly a third. This makes us highly exposed to American policy in this area," the Newark MP warned.
He continued: "An American move to ban diesel exports would drive up prices across our economy.
"This will hammer millions of working people, damage our economy, and reduce our ability to fund national security.
Donald Trump is said to be considering the ban - but the White House dismissed the rumours as 'fake news'
GETTY
"As America’s closest European ally, this would not be in America’s long-term interest."
Mr Jenrick further warned that a diesel ban would cause costs for Americans to skyrocket, while "undermining the viability of jet fuel production".
He insisted a move would fail to improve living standards for either citizens in the UK or the US and demanded Britain is exempted, "in recognition of our long-standing special relationship".
Even Americans' own national energy assocations have pleaded with Mr Trump to shake off calls for the ban.
They warned the ban would lead to "less fuel production, tighter supplies, and rising costs for American families, farmers, and truckers".
Meanwhile, Britain could also be on the downward turn for surging fuel prices and shortages.
Greg Newman, the chief of London-based oil trader Onyx Capital branded the potential ban as "a disaster"
He said: "Rising prices would act like a form of rationing, by destroying demand.
"High diesel prices would hit haulage, farming and construction, impacting food and goods inflation."
