Politics

Boris Johnson plans the first fuel duty cut in eight years raising snap election speculation


BORIS Johnson is planning to slash fuel duty to win over drivers.

The move, set to be announced in the emergency Budget, would be the first cut in eight years.

 Boris Johnson at the G7 summit in Biarritz on Saturday. The PM is said to planning to slash fuel duty

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Boris Johnson at the G7 summit in Biarritz on Saturday. The PM is said to planning to slash fuel dutyCredit: AFP or licensors

No10’s proposal would go down well with hard-pressed families, raising speculation about a snap autumn election.

It comes as two new polls show Mr Johnson is enjoying a honeymoon period with voters.

A No10 source said: “After eight years, it is time to finally put some money back into the pockets of motorists.”

But another Whitehall source told The Sun the idea of a fuel duty cut was just speculation.

This year, fuel duty is expected to raise nearly £29billion, the equivalent of about £1,000 for every British family.

The tax has been frozen at 57.95p a litre since 2010-11. Last year, then chancellor Philip Hammond said the freeze had saved drivers £1,000 in that time.

But petrol prices shot up last month, pushing the average cost of a tank of fuel to £71.01.

Mr Johnson will hope a fuel duty cut will prove a vote winner if he does call an election.

Last night, he was bolstered by two polls showing his party was winning support.

A YouGov poll for The Sunday Times puts the Conservatives on 33 per cent, 12 points ahead of Labour, with the Brexit Party on 14 per cent.

It is the Tories’ biggest lead since the 2017 election.

And an Opinium survey showed the Tories at 32 per cent, having doubled their lead over Labour in the past fortnight.

 The proposed fuel duty cut would go down well with hard-pressed families

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The proposed fuel duty cut would go down well with hard-pressed familiesCredit: Getty – Contributor
Boris Johnson and other heads of state arrive in Biarritz ahead of the 45th G7 Summit





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