Ed Davey calls for immediate 10p cut to fuel duty

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has urged the government to implement an immediate reduction in fuel duty by 10p a litre, keeping the measure in place until Christmas. This proposal forms a central pillar of a new policy package designed to alleviate the mounting cost-of-living pressures facing households across the United Kingdom.

Alongside the temporary fuel duty reduction, the Liberal Democrat leader is pressing ministers to completely scrap a planned permanent increase in fuel duty scheduled to take effect in January. Fuel duty had previously been frozen by the Conservatives in March 2022, a policy maintained by Sir Keir Starmer's administration in May when they pushed back a 3p increase originally slated for September until the end of the year.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

The Liberal Democrats calculate that shaving 10p off fuel duty right away would translate to a 12p per litre drop at the pump for motorists. Sir Ed argued that drivers deserve substantial support and insisted that a temporary three-month fuel duty cut would effectively self-finance by stimulating broader economic activity.

During his address at the party's autumn conference on Tuesday, Sir Ed is set to outline further measures, including lowering the national bus fare cap from £3 down to £1, alongside a 10% reduction in rail ticket prices to ease commuting costs.