Grim warning for Brits over hospital visits because of Iran war | Politics | News
Hospital visits are to become the latest casualty of the war in Iran as surging fuel prices force people to stay at home, campaigners have warned. Fuel prices hikes brought about by the conflict mean Brits will tighten their purse strings as a new survey reveals visits to hospital could be the first thing to go.
Campaigners have demanded the Chancellor cut fuel duty to protect families struggling with the cost of driving.
Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK said: “Rachel Reeves could calm inflationary pressure and protect the economy from recession by cutting fuel duty now and promising to scrap any increase in this regressive tax in the lifetime of this Parliament.”
Mr Cox added: “The world’s highest taxed drivers deserve relief from the high costs of an essential resource, and the economy needs a boost by increasing consumer spending and lowering costs for small businesses.”
He said: “This can be achieved by cutting fuel duty, removing the immorally levied VAT on fuel duty, and ensuring that pump pricing is fair, honest, and transparent through a PumpWatch with teeth.”
Oil prices have surged in recent weeks due to the escalating conflict with Iran, threatening to push pump prices even higher for Britain’s beleaguered motorists.
The warning comes as families already struggling with Labour’s cost of living crisis face even higher costs for essential journeys including hospital visits, school runs and commuting to work.
A government spokesperson said: “We know that people are concerned about the potential impact of global conflicts on the cost of living. While it is too soon to know the full impact of this crisis, as the Chancellor said, she will take the necessary decisions to help families with the cost of living and protect the public finances.”
The spokesperson added: “We have extended the 5p fuel duty cut, expanded the Warm Homes Discount to take £150 a year off of energy bills for six million households, and the energy price cap will protect households for the next three months as bills will fall by £117.”
