Hammond set to freeze fuel duty

FUEL duty is likely to be frozen in next month’s Budget to help drivers, the Chancellor hinted yesterday.

Philip Hammond is under intense pressure to cancel a 3p-a-litre rise in pump prices that is due to come in next April.

the treasury has declined to comment on the rise, which would be the first since 2010. But Mr Hammond highlighted the freeze yesterday as he briefed the Cabinet on measures the Government is taking to reduce the impact of inflation.

Howard Cox, of the lobby group FairFuel UK, said: ‘it would be political and economic suicide to increase fuel duty.

‘Any hike will increase inflation, cost jobs and slow fiscal growth.’