Robert Jenrick issues furious attack on Rachel Reeves over fuel prices | Politics | News
Lee Anderson and Robert Jenrick from Reformation UK (Image: PA)
Robert Jenrick believes people should “take to the streets” to show how angry they are at the rise in fuel prices. Reform England’s Treasury spokeswoman, Rachel Reeves, has backed farmers who are threatening to blockade Britain’s roads unless it reduces the cost of red diesel used in tractors.
Asked whether he would be concerned about supply chain disruptions putting further pressure on households due to blockades, he said: “No, I think people need to take to the streets. Show how angry they are and demand that Rachel Reeves do something about it.”
“Rachel Reeves is acting as a bystander. She’s the chancellor. She must do something to ease the burden. For farmers this is almost existential. This is a consequence of the family farm tax and the war this government is currently waging on the countryside. The cost of filling up a tractor with red diesel prices is incredibly high at the moment, so Reeves must act.”
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Asked about supply chain disruptions putting more pressure on households due to blockades, he said: “No, I think people need to take to the streets. Show how angry they are and demand that Rachel Reeves do something about it.”
The risk of protests will increase pressure on Ms Reeves to announce support for motorists struggling with skyrocketing fuel costs.
Mr Jenrick appeared at a Bay forecourt in Lowdham, Nottingham, today where he slashed petrol prices per liter by 13p and 16p for diesel.
The price cut, funded by Reform UK, is the same saving as the halving of VAT on fuel to 10% that Nigel Farage’s party has called on the Chancellor to make over three months as an emergency response to the Iran war.
Mr Jenrick was heckled by Green Party activists when he urged the Chancellor to introduce the policy.
He said: “What we are saying very clearly is that there needs to be an immediate cut on petrol and diesel. Half of VAT and that will have an immediate impact for farmers, for white truck drivers, frankly for anyone who drives to work, takes their children to school or gets around.
“From Australia to Spain to the Republic of Ireland, many countries are now doing exactly the same, but our Chancellor and government are doing absolutely nothing and it is a disgrace.”
Pump prices stopped their rise after 43 days of increases, with petrol rising from 25.5 pence to 158.3 pence and diesel rising 49 pence to 191.54 pence.
Third-generation farmer Simon Richardson, 52, had Mr Jenrick fill up one of his farm vehicles, which holds up to 300 liters of diesel.
A poultry farmer from Fenton, near Lincoln, who has been forced to diversify, said it could cost him an extra £6,000 a year to run the vehicle, which is one of several in his fleet.
Asked if farmers could take to the streets and impose a blockade, he said: “I think so. It’s not something I’m thinking about but it’s been a tough winter for farmers, there’s so much rain that everyone is struggling to pay, so I can see things getting worse. Those costs will have to be passed on, which I think is unfair to the general public and consumers.”
“Rachel Reeves needs to do something to support the rural community with this fuel tax. But the government isn’t doing anything. They’re sitting there doing absolutely nothing and I feel like they need to do something.”
Ms Reeves, who attended the International Monetary Fund’s spring meetings in Washington DC, said families and businesses in Britain were bearing the cost of instability “not of their making”.
Fuel duty has been frozen since 2011 and will be cut by 5p in 2022 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In last year’s budget, Ms Reeves said the 5p deduction would be removed between September 2026 and March 2027.
A Treasury spokesman said: “Farmers are paying more because of the war in Iran. It is not our war and that is why we did not take part. The Chancellor has made clear that our economic approach to this crisis will be both responsive to a changing world and sensitive to the national interest.”
“We are committed to helping keep costs low – red diesel continues to benefit from 80% tax relief – saving farmers around £300 million a year – and providing £11.8 billion to support farm costs.”
