Duties on alcohol and fuel frozen, Rishi Sunak announces

Fuel duty unchanged for 11 years as planned rise scrapped once again

Duties on alcohol and fuel have been frozen in chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget.

Mr Sunak told MPs he was cancelling planned increases in both levies in recognition of the fact that consumers were going through a “tough time” as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

The decision means that duty on petrol and diesel has remained at 57.95p a litre since 2011, with planned increases cancelled for 11 consecutive years.

Mr Sunak said:  “Planned increases in duties for spirits like scotch whisky, wine, cider and beer will all be cancelled.

“All alcohol duties frozen for the second year in a row. The third time in two decades.

“And right now, to keep the cost of living low, I’m not prepared to increase the cost of a tank of fuel. So the planned increase in fuel duty is also cancelled.”