# UK fuel prices hit £2 a litre as Labour faces pressure to scrap Fuel Duty hike

> Near-record fuel prices threaten inflation, forcing Labour to reconsider planned Fuel Duty hike amid driver backlash
- Title: UK fuel prices hit £2 a litre as Labour faces pressure to…
- Summary: Near-record fuel prices threaten inflation, forcing Labour to reconsider planned Fuel Duty hike amid driver backlash Over 10% of UK forecourts now charge £2…
- Keywords: fuel, diesel, petrol, inflation, labour, fuel duty, tax, government, budget, news, entertainment, prices
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16135753/Hundreds-forecourts-charging-2-litre-fuel.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-09-16T13:31:21+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: uk, fuel, diesel, petrol, inflation, labour, fuel duty, tax, government, budget, news, entertainment
## Record fuel prices surge
Over 10% of UK forecourts now charge £2 a litre for diesel, with prices hitting near-record levels
## Price impact on drivers
Filling a family car's average 55-litre tank now costs £94 for petrol and £107 for diesel
## Inflation connection
Fuel prices have driven UK inflation from 2.9% to 3.1% since the Iran war began
## Labour's planned hike
Labour plans to raise Fuel Duty by 3p a litre on January 1 and 2p on March 1, netting billions for the Treasury
## Haulage sector impact
One haulage firm's weekly fuel costs have surged by £2 million since the Iran war began
## Tax relief push
RAC fuel expert calls for Fuel Duty relief in next month's Budget to ease household pressure
## Reform UK criticism
Reform UK deputy leader says drivers are 'literally being taken for a ride' by Labour's Fuel Duty plans
## Haulage boss warning
A 96-year-old haulage firm reports weekly fuel costs have jumped to £2.9 million
## Treasury response
Treasury says tax decisions are for the Chancellor to make, not for routine speculation
## Inflation threat
Fuel prices could trigger protests if they exceed £2 a litre, a milestone that has sparked past demonstrations
## Energy bill impact
Household energy bills are expected to rise by up to 26% as fuel prices surge
## VAT windfall
Higher fuel prices have generated a £1.3 billion VAT windfall for the Treasury
## Historical context
Diesel prices hit 199.05p in June 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, triggering similar economic shockwaves
## Pre-war prices
Before the Iran war, diesel cost 142.38p and petrol 132.83p per litre
## Current prices
Diesel now costs 193.85p and petrol 171.27p per litre, a four-year high
## Fuel duty timeline
Labour's Fuel Duty hike is scheduled for January 1 and March 1, but faces pressure to be abandoned
## Key takeaway

Over 10% of UK forecourts now charge £2 a litre for diesel, pushing Labour to abandon planned Fuel Duty increase