Some forecourts are already selling petrol and diesel above £2 per litre (Danny Lawson/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)The average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts reached a new record of 183.2p on Thursday, according to data firm Experian.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said prices had risen by 7p in a week as he called on the Government to take action to reduce the “enormous financial burden” on motorists.
The price rise means the cost of filling up a typical 55-litre family car is now £100.76 after it passed the £100 threshold on Thursday. Elsewhere, the average price of a litre of diesel on Thursday was a record 188.8p.
“It’s becoming clearer by the day that the Government must take further action to reduce the enormous financial burden on drivers. But based on statements given yesterday it seems fixated on ensuring retailers are passing on March’s 5p duty cut fully,” Mr Williams said.
“In doing so, the Government is ignoring the fact that wholesale costs of fuel have absolutely rocketed since then with petrol having gone up 24%, or around 30p per litre, and it’s these higher costs that are driving the current increases at the pumps.
“The Government needs to recognise that the 5p duty cut is therefore a drop in the ocean and more needs to be done now to support drivers who are feeling the pain every time they go to fill up their cars.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak was accused of “plundering” from motorists by a senior Tory MP Sir John Redwood amid claims that the Treasury is now making more in tax from petrol than before his 5p-a-litre cut in fuel duty in March.
The former Cabinet Minister tweeted on Thursday: “Lots of support for an urgent cut in VAT on petrol and diesel.
“The Chancellor needs to limit the amount he plunders from us at the pumps. How much more inflation does he want? How big a squeeze on incomes?”
The AA has called for an immediate 10p cut in fuel duty, with senior Conservative MP Robert Halfon saying it should be between 10p and 20p “at least temporarily”.
Boris Johnson hinted that tax on diesel and petrol could be cut, saying the Government would “continue to look after people in any way that we can”.
But he stressed he could not “anticipate” Mr Sunak’s decisions.
“We hope that corporations will be responsible and will recognise that now is the time not just to take price but to look after consumers,” he said.
“That is in their long-term interests as well.”
