Fuel duty WON’T be hiked in Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement in huge relief for drivers

DRIVERS can breathe a sigh of relief as the Chancellor did not hike Fuel Duty today.

Jeremy Hunt protected the 5p cut to the tax on motorists in his Autumn statement today — despite Treasury pressure to hike it.

At today’s Autumn Statement, Mr Hunt had significantly more financial headroom than last March’s Budget.

That helped the chief bean-counter bat away calls from officials to cancel the 5p cut, with one source saying: “As ever there was internal pressure to raise revenue this autumn from fuel but Jeremy has said no.”

In his Autumn Statement Jeremy Hunt announced:

• The biggest ever price hike for tobacco products
•   A major win for The Sun’s Save Our Sups campaign with alcohol duty frozen
•   A major benefit change for renters on Universal Credit
•   A £10,000 energy bill discount for Brits living near pylons
•  A £350 income boost for self-employed workers
•  A £470 payment boost for millions on Universal Credit
•  Millions will be stripped of benefits under harsh new rules
•  Nurses will save £500 in a personal income tax cut
•  No fuel duty hike in huge relief for drivers

Thanks to The Sun’s Keep it Down crusade, Fuel Duty had been frozen at 57.95p since March 2011 and temporarily slashed by an extra 5p in 2022.

The 52.95p rate is due to expire in March next year – meaning a fresh battle against the hated tax is brewing ahead of the Budget in the spring.

Tory MPs and ministers have lined up to back The Sun’s campaigning to keep fuel costs down.

It comes as petrol prices are as high as 182p in some parts, and diesel costing an average of 157.78p.

At the March Budget Mr Hunt said: “I know how much Sun readers are feeling the pinch right now.

“Whether you drive a van, a hatchback or a people carrier I know how much you need to be on the road.

“Keeping it down means hard-working people will have an extra £100 this year without having to cut down using their vehicle.”

How to cut fuel costs with rewards programs

There are ways to save an extra 5p per litre if you sign up for major supermarket loyalty schemes.

Esso has partnered with Nectar for its loyalty scheme and you can get 5p off a litre when you swap 300 Nectar points.

Drivers with a BPme rewards card will get one point for every £1 they spend in-store or on a litre of regular fuel at a BP garage.

Motorists will get £1 off their fuel or shopping for every 200 points.

Texaco, Shell, Sainsbury’s and Tesco loyalty card holders can also get money off their bills.