Drivers demand fuel supply chain must be held accountable as petrol prices soar

A new opinion poll from FairFuelUK, which surveyed over 23,000 UK drivers, reveals significant concern regarding the manipulation of petrol prices.

Many motorists have reported sharp increases in the cost of fuel already in stock.

Drivers are feeling the impact of rising petrol prices, which pose a significant burden in the current cost-of-living crisis.

The poll indicates that a 20p-per-litre increase would force many drivers to cut back on dining out, hobbies, branded food, and even visits to family.

While supermarket fuel may attract more customers, nearly half of the drivers stated they would reduce their grocery shopping, and 11% are worried about cutting back on hospital visits.

Almost 97% of respondents support a cut in fuel duty, and 94% are calling for stricter measures against profiteering by major oil companies, as many have experienced significant price hikes at their regular petrol stations.

In fact, 43.4% of respondents reported noticeable increases in fuel prices at their usual forecourts, with 89.2% blaming major brands like Shell, BP, Esso, and Texaco. Drivers warned that an additional 20p-per-litre rise would lead to severe lifestyle changes, with 72.3% indicating they would cut spending on leisure and dining.

Moreover, 61.4% would switch to generic foods, 54.5% would purchase more fuel from supermarket forecourts, and 46.7% would reduce the size of their grocery shopping.

Additionally, 43.8% would work from home more often, 38.1% might use public transport more, 22.7% would limit visits to family and friends, and 11.4% expressed concerns about reducing hospital visits.

The poll also demonstrates a strong desire for government intervention, with 97.4% of respondents advocating for a fuel duty cut of at least 10p per litre. Furthermore, 96.5% want VAT on fuel duty to be eliminated to prevent “double taxation,” and 94.3% support strict enforcement of FairFuelUK’s PumpWatch scheme, which includes heavy fines for profiteering.

FairFuelUK stated that these findings highlight how unchecked forecourt pricing is directly affecting households and worsening the cost-of-living crisis, urging the government to take immediate and decisive action.

This paints a clear picture: motorists feel squeezed, and the majority believe that the current system allows large oil companies to profit at the expense of the public.

Howard Cox, Founder of FairFuelUK said: “The Petrol Retailers Association PRA, said it has withdrawn from a meeting with Chancellor Rachel Reeves in Downing Street on Friday over “concerns that inflammatory language by Government ministers was leading to incidents of retail staff being abused by members of the public”.

No one approves of such disgusting actions by forecourt customers toward staff, but the FairFuelUK Poll shows that the PRA must explain how pump prices are calculated.

For too long, they have shielded the indefensible, the chronic ripping off of the UK’s drivers. Profiteering is widespread, and the fuel supply chain must be held accountable without question. Avoiding this meeting suggests the PRA has something to hide, and FairFuelUK’s PumpWatch couldn’t come any sooner to expose their protection of a price-fixing cartel.