BUDGET '09: Fuel duty rise confirmed

22 April, 2009

The price of fuel will rise by two pence a litre on 1 September 2009, and then by one penny a litre in real terms each year from 2010 to 2013.

Chancellor Alistair Darling announced the price hike in today’s Budget in a move that was swiftly condemned. "The Chancellor continues to unfairly burden motorists with extra taxes,” said the director of the RAC Foundation Stephen Glaister. “He wrongly assumes all motorists can easily afford these charges.

“Today's move will only penalise the unemployed who in future will increasingly have to travel further to find jobs and training.”

The Freight Transport Association slammed the Chancellor, saying: “The logistics sector is the lifeblood of the UK economy, and rather than the transfusion we need, Alistair Darling has turned Dracula.”

Fuel duty rose by 1.84p a litre on 1 April, having also risen by two pence a litre back in December last year.