RHA delivers open letter to Downing Street – Scrap the fuel duty rise
22 Apr 2026
Posted By Paul Mummery
The RHA (Road Haulage Association) has today (Wednesday 22 April) delivered an open letter to Downing Street calling on the Government to scrap plans to raise fuel duty later this year.
More than 470 transport operators signed the open letter to the Chancellor. It comes as diesel costs have soared by around 40 percent amid turmoil in the Middle East.
The letter said: ‘On behalf of HGV, coach and van operators, alongside all other road users and the entire UK economy, we ask you to end the planned increases in fuel duty scheduled to start in September 2026.
‘A 5p cut was introduced in 2022 as a result of international conflicts sending fuel prices soaring. We are now in the same situation four years later, and it is the wrong time to reverse those cuts now.
‘Higher prices for fuel drives up prices for everyday consumers and pushes businesses and employers to the brink. We cannot afford another inflation crisis caused by the cost of fuel.’
Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director, said:
‘We need the Chancellor to act now. Commercial vehicles move around 80% of Britain’s goods and generate more than a third of fuel duty revenues. Yet they are being hit hardest by rising fuel costs.
‘These increases are inflationary, pushing up the cost of everything from food to construction.
‘This letter is clear. We’re calling on the Chancellor to scrap planned fuel duty increases.
‘We also urge the Government to introduce an essential user rebate for haulage, coach and van operators to keep costs down.
‘Other countries already back their transport sectors in this way. It’s time the UK did the same.’
Sarah Edwards, MP for Tamworth accompanied RHA representatives to Downing Street. She said:
‘Following my recent campaigning on the price of fuel, I was delighted to join the RHA’s managing director, Richard Smith in supporting their open letter to the Chancellor calling for a fuel duty freeze.
‘I will always support local hauliers who want their businesses not just to survive but prosper.’
The RHA is following this up with a letter to MPs calling on them to support calls for an essential user rebate.
Operators can access the letter here:
-Ends-
Notes for editors
The RHA’s asks of the Government:
- an immediate essential user rebate
- no increase in fuel duty in September
- no link between fuel duty and inflation from April 2027
- fair payment terms to support cashflow across the sector
RHA spokespersons are available for interviews and broadcast.