Reform UK Demands Fuel VAT Cut as Jenrick Slams Chancellor
Robert Jenrick, the Reform UK Treasury spokesman, has launched a blistering attack on Chancellor Rachel Reeves, accusing her of "betraying working people" by refusing to halve VAT on fuel. During a staged event at a petrol station in Nottinghamshire, Jenrick called for a three-month reduction in VAT to 10%, claiming it would provide immediate relief to drivers grappling with soaring costs.
Petrol Station Protest and Political Clash
At the Gulf petrol station in Lowdham, Jenrick highlighted discounted prices of 145.9p per litre for petrol and 178.9p for diesel, which Reform UK equated to the savings from a VAT cut. However, the event was disrupted by about six Green Party activists holding "Vote Green" signs and shouting accusations about supporting the war in Iran, as Jenrick and Ashfield MP Lee Anderson announced the price drop.
Jenrick, who defected from the Conservatives in January, argued that the government should use increased tax revenues from higher fuel and energy bills to "lighten the load" for families. He cited examples from Spain, Portugal, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland where similar measures have been implemented, branding Reeves' inaction as that of a "bystander."
Broader Energy and Policy Context
The call for a VAT cut comes amid a spike in oil prices, which surged to around $100 (£74) per barrel after US talks with Iran collapsed and former President Donald Trump threatened to block ships. Jenrick linked the crisis to energy security, advocating for increased drilling in the North Sea as a solution to reduce dependency and stabilize prices.
Reform UK has also pledged to reverse planned fuel duty hikes by scrapping green levies and undoing the Chancellor's scheduled increase. Fuel duty has been frozen since 2011, with a 5p cut in 2022 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but Reeves announced last year that this cut would be phased out between September 2026 and March 2027.
Government Response and Economic Debate
A HM Treasury spokesperson dismissed Jenrick's claims as "misleading and economically illiterate," arguing that higher fuel costs lead to reduced spending in other VAT-taxed areas. The spokesperson emphasized the government's commitment to keeping costs down for motorists, noting the extension of the 5p fuel duty cut and calls for de-escalation in global conflicts.
Reeves, who is attending the International Monetary Fund's spring meetings in Washington DC, has previously stated that British families and businesses are bearing the brunt of global instability "they did not cause." The political divide highlights ongoing tensions over economic policy, with Reform UK positioning itself as a champion for drivers against what it perceives as government profiteering.
