The Liberal Democrats have proposed a 10p cut in fuel duty per litre for a fixed three-month period, aiming to ease the burden of rising fuel costs on motorists. The announcement came during the party conference led by Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, over the weekend.
Alongside the proposed fuel duty reduction, the party plans to reduce the bus fare cap from £3 to £1 and introduce additional measures to address transport-related living costs. Speaking on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Davey stated, “I’m talking about real change, not just talking about the bubbles.”
He highlighted the party’s consistent success in council elections, noting that the Liberal Democrats have been winning for eight consecutive years-a historic achievement for the party.
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Davey pointed to international factors influencing current fuel prices, saying, “Petrol and diesel prices are higher than they’ve been for a long time because of Trump’s mad war with Iran, and people need help now.”
The estimated cost of the proposed policy is around £2 billion, described as a temporary three-month package. Davey emphasised that it would effectively fund itself, considering additional government revenues from the energy profits levy, gas taxes, VAT, and existing fuel duties.
According to the party’s calculations, the 10p cut in fuel duty would translate to a 12p drop per litre at the pump.
In response, Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson acknowledged the proposal but pointed out that the Labour government has already taken measures to address fuel duty. Speaking on the same BBC programme, she said, “I’m sure John Healey will be open to any and all suggestions ahead of the budget but actually this is an area where the Labour government has taken action on fuel duty already.” She added, “Whilst I recognise what the Lib Dems have to say on this topic, this is the element of politics about it-they’ve got their conference, they’re making their pitch, good luck to them.”
Within the Liberal Democrat ranks, some voices reflected on the party’s messaging and public recognition. Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, emphasised the need for clear communication, saying, “If we want to be a party of government, then we need to have a message for the whole country, not just parts of it.”
An insider commented on the party’s approach, stating, “We already have quite a lot of policies, if people look at them. It’s less about what you get if you vote Lib Dem than why you should-about what we represent. And people don’t really know that.”
A longtime party activist likened the party’s visibility to being noticed only during elections, explaining: “The voters only seem to properly notice us once every four years, when there’s an election. It’s a bit like being curling at the Winter Olympics-the rest of the time we’re forgotten. It would be good if we had a more distinctive message, and that needs boldness.”