The Great Fuel Rip Off: Fuel in England is Among the Most Expensive in the World

The Great Fuel Rip Off: Fuel in England is Among the Most Expensive in the World

Get ready to be shocked by how much Tax is being taken. We are being taxed to the hilt, driven to the brink, and ignored by this British government. England is being fleeced at the pump. Not by oil companies. Not by global markets. But by the British government.

Every time you fill up your car, you are not just buying fuel. You are paying the British Government. Around 57% of the pump price is tax. This breaks down as:

• Fuel duty: 52.95p per litre
• VAT at 20%: Applied on top of that duty

Yes, that is correct, you are paying tax on a tax. At current prices, approximately 75p in every £1 goes straight to the Treasury. This is not a side issue; it is one of the largest everyday financial burdens on working people across England.

The Workers of England Union needs to clearly state what is happening: You drive to work and you pay tax, you drive your children to school and you pay tax! Unfortunately for families and workers across England, the British Government just sits back and collects. There is no urgency to reform and no relief, as they are happy to just collect revenue.

[Image of a petrol pump nozzle with a "Tax" label, showing a large portion of the fuel flowing into a Treasury bucket while a small amount reaches a car]

The Government Blames International Pressure

The British Government loves to say “global pressures” are to blame. But that argument collapses instantly when you look abroad. Take what Australia has just done: They cut Fuel excise by 50% overnight, which meant immediate savings for drivers. It was a clear political decision by that government to protect household income.

What has the British Government done? They froze duty but did not meaningfully reduce it, and VAT remains untouched. The Workers of England Union clearly believes that this is not about what can be done; it is about this government refusing to act. This silence is a growing concern, especially as the Labour government is silent as fuel costs surge toward £2 a litre.

Who is the Hardest Hit?

Fuel tax is not neutral; it is a deeply regressive tax that takes from lower-income families the same as it does from high-earning families without balancing. It hits hardest among:

• NHS staff commuting long distances
• Care workers on low pay
• Tradespeople and delivery drivers
• Rural communities with no transport alternatives
• Shift workers with no access to public transport

These are not luxury drivers. These are the people keeping the country running. Businesses are also struggling, which will continue to impact employment opportunities.

The "Public Transport" Myth

The big lie is for the British Government to say, ‘use Public Transport.’ That argument might work in London or big cities, but it collapses everywhere else. Across huge parts of England, bus routes have been cut and services are unreliable or non-existent. You cannot tell people to “drive less” when you have systematically removed the alternative!

Let the Workers of England Union be blunt: The British Government has created a system where you must drive but you can’t afford to drive. Why? Because the British Government profits. That is not policy, it is a trap.

5 Points for Action

The Workers of England Union has written a letter to the British Chancellor, but we want our members to know our position. If this government is serious about supporting working people, it must act immediately:

1. Halve fuel duty: Follow the Australian model and deliver immediate relief.
2. Remove VAT on fuel: Taxing the tax itself is indefensible.
3. Introduce nationwide bus subsidies: Affordable transport is essential infrastructure.
4. Rebuild local transport networks: Specifically in rural and semi-rural areas.
5. Commit to a long-term affordability strategy: Structural reform is long overdue.

This is not just about fuel. It is about fairness and maintaining living standards.