Overview
- At a Derbyshire petrol station, Reform UK rebranded the forecourt and funded a one‑day 25p‑per‑litre discount to illustrate its promise to ease pump prices.
- Nigel Farage and Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick pledged to block the planned 5p fuel‑duty increase by scrapping heat‑pump grants, electric‑vehicle subsidies and carbon‑capture spending, with Jenrick citing £13 billion in annual savings.
- Chancellor Rachel Reeves has resisted canceling the scheduled rise, which unwinds the 2022 duty cut between September 2026 and March 2027, as oil prices have jumped following the Iran conflict.
- Questioned on the war, Farage said the UK should not get involved and ruled out boots on the ground, a shift from his earlier tone and at odds with previous calls from Richard Tice and Nadhim Zahawi for strikes; Jenrick has argued against joining attacks.
- The fuel‑price push follows a high‑profile Isle of Wight rally ahead of May local elections, reflecting Reform UK’s strategy to channel cost‑of‑living grievances into electoral momentum.