Business urges government to scrap planned 5p fuel duty rise as diesel tops £2 a litre

From the Newshound archive · first published 27 September 2026 · last updated 28 September 2026.

British businesses are demanding the government abandon its planned 5p fuel duty increase after diesel prices broke the £2-a-litre barrier. Fishermen have been hit hardest, with soaring diesel costs leaving fleets unable to afford to put to sea. The pressure is mounting ahead of the budget, with industry groups warning the rise would devastate already-squeezed sectors.

British fishermen have been grounded by the diesel price surge, unable to operate profitably at current fuel costs.

In Ireland, more than 1,000 people at a public meeting in Co Westmeath warned of renewed mass protests if the budget fails to cut fuel taxes, with organisers saying they will be 'hitting the road'.

Irish protest organiser John Dallon said 'people cannot exist any more' and demanded carbon tax be scrapped from all food production, with the government sitting on a €9 billion surplus.