Drivers handed £175 at petrol pumps after Labour fuel duty Budget U-turn

and owners have avoided a staggering £175 petrol and diesel price rise with Rachel Reeves' in the Autumn Budget.

The Chancellor had been tipped to raise fuel duty by between 5p and 10p per litre .

This would have seen bills rise by £3.75 every time motorists topped-up their family cars which would have added up to a £175 per year charge.

However, stunned analysts by c at its current 52.95p rate for at least one more year.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Rachel Reeves confirmed that freezing fuel duty was a "substantial commitment" but accepted that raising costs would be "wrong.

The Chancellor explained: "I have concluded that in these difficult circumstances, while the cost of living remains high and with the backdrop of global uncertainty, increasing fuel duty next year would be the wrong choice for working people.

"It would mean fuel duty rising by 7p per litre so I have decided today to freeze fuel duty next year and I will maintain the existing 5p cut for another year too. There will be no higher taxes at the petrol pumps next year."

Petrol and diesel price rises were set to be unpopular among road users with previous polls showing widespread concern about the prospect of a higher fee.

from found that 58 percent of 82,160 motorists polled wanted fuel duty rates to be frozen.

Meanwhile, 34 percent said they wanted petrol and diesel tax fees to be cut with just seven percent backing rises.

Among the 13,209 Labour voters surveyed, just three percent threw their support behind any price rises with 57 percent demanding rates were frozen.

Edmund King, President of the said motorists had "escaped that threat" of higher tax charges.

Reacting to the statement, Edmund explained: "Drivers were worried that pre-Budget scares of hiked fuel duty may end in a nightmare, but the Chancellor has pulled off the ultimate trick and treat.

"Since Covid and the start of the Ukraine war, 'perma-high' pump prices have inflicted road fuel costs that were well above anything motorists had endured before. Today's fuel duty freeze will be a big relief."