RISHI Sunak was last night facing demands to follow the lead of Ireland and slash fuel duty for hard-up drivers.
The plea to the Chancellor came after diesel in England went up by 3p a litre on Tuesday — the largest rise since 2000 — with petrol up 2p too.
2
2
It saw a garage charging £2.19 a litre for diesel in Chelsea, West London.
Yesterday ministers in Dublin agreed a 17p cut in tax on unleaded petrol and 13p off diesel until the end of August.
Irish finance minister Paschal Donohoe said: “We are experiencing the consequences of a war.”
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said the Chancellor must follow suit.
He added: “This tax is causing unbelievable financial pain to drivers.
“Mr Sunak holds the key to easing the burden.”
Filling a 55-litre family car with petrol now costs £87 — £7 more than at the start of the year.
A tank of diesel typically costs £90 for the first time.
Most read in The Sun
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is to talk to Mr Sunak about the situation.
£4bn deal
BORIS Johnson will today reignite Britain’s shipbuilding industry with a bumper £4billion boost.
The PM hopes the cash will lead to 150 military and civilian ships being built in the country’s docks.
The new National Shipbuilding Strategy will help shipyards across the nation while bolstering his levelling-up agenda.
Mr Johnson said: “Shipbuilding has been in our blood for centuries and I want to ensure it remains at the heart of British industry of generations to come.
“This will ensure the UK is rightly seen as a shipbuilding power across the world.”
