A RISE in fuel duty would be catastrophic for drivers and the economy, the four Tory leadership contenders have warned.
Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat have joined forces to issue a dire warning against any attempt to push up prices at the pump.
Backing The Sun’s Keep It Down campaign, the four are demanding the Chancellor keeps the 5p fuel duty cut intact and abandons any plans for a rise in the Budget.
In a joint letter, they argue the rumoured 10p-a-litre hike would pile enormous pressure on millions of cash-strapped families.
They also insist the move would “increase inflation and damage our economy”.
Their plea comes amid mounting speculation Chancellor Rachel Reeves will hit drivers to help plug a £22billion “hole” in public finances.
In a rare show of unity ahead of their party conference, the Tory leadership contenders said: “Labour has constantly refused to deny that October’s Budget will end the UK’s 15-year freeze on fuel duty.
“A predicted 10p-a-litre rise in duty will bring misery to Britain’s 37 million motorists.
"It will not only add £5.50 to the average fill-up, but will also increase inflation and damage our economy, jobs, business investment and freedom of movement.”
The senior Tories also highlighted the fuel duty freeze - first introduced in 2011 - has saved drivers “more than £200billion in planned tax hikes in duty and VAT and put £24billion a year into consumer spending".
Their letter stated: "Without the freeze, fuel duty would now be 90p a litre rather than the 57.95p it is today and we’d be paying more than £2 a litre at the pumps.
"We must oppose these vindictive measures that will hit hardwoking Brits like Sun readers the hardest."
Motorists have enjoyed frozen rates since 2011 thanks to our peerless crusade to protect people at the pump.
Howard Cox, founder of FairFuel UK, said: "Needlessly fleecing drivers for a baseless green ideal through a rumoured huge hike in fuel duty is pure economic suicide. All the independent economists say such a punitive cash grab will severely impact inflation, growth, investment, jobs, and the very survival of many hauliers and small businesses."
AA President Edmund King added: “The Government should not use current lower pump prices as an excuse to hike fuel duty as global volatility means oil prices will rise, and this would be a double whammy on drivers.
"High fuel duty pushes up transport costs, wage demands and fuels inflation."
A Treasury spokesman said: “We do not comment on speculation around tax changes outside of fiscal events.”
