Starmer says fuel duty freeze will stay after outcry from drivers hit by Middle East crisis - but only 'until the end of the year'

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 12:13, 20 May 2026 | Updated: 12:20, 20 May 2026 Keir Starmer bowed to pressure from struggling drivers today as he announced the fuel duty freeze will stay in place. At PMQs, Sir Keir said a 5p rise in duty planned for September was being delayed as part of moves to help Brits hit by the Middle East crisis.  But he only said that the level would be kept on hold 'for the rest of the year' - raising the prospect that it will go ahead at that point. The news emerged amid clashes with Kemi Badenoch in the Commons, where the Tory leader condemned the premier for restricting drilling in the North Sea. Hauliers are also being given a road tax 'holiday' for a year.   At PMQs, Keir Starmer said a 5p rise in duty planned for September was being delayed as part of moves to help Brits hit by the Middle East crisis Your browser does not support iframes. Sir Keir said: 'I can announce today that we are giving our hauliers a 12-month road tax holiday, helping to keep prices down. 'And we are backing drivers by extending the freeze in fuel duty for the rest of the year.' Outside the chamber, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'I'm keeping taxes down for drivers and businesses – putting money in the pockets of millions of workers and cutting costs for farmers and hauliers. '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 'By protecting households and businesses we are building a stronger and more secure economy for Britain. That is the right economic plan.' Fuel duty rates were previously planned to increase from September, gradually returning to previous levels over the next five years. Iran's restrictions on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz means the average price of a litre of petrol and diesel at UK forecourts is 26p and 44p respectively more expensive than before the conflict started on February 28. Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: 'Although today's news on fuel duty won't have the immediate effect of bringing forecourt prices down, at least it shows that ministers have registered the financial pain caused by rampant pump prices for individuals and for business. 'Since the start of the Iran conflict drivers have already paid a war premium of a staggering £3billion in inflated fuel prices, half a billion of which has gone to the Exchequer in VAT receipts.' The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.