Fuel duty freeze would cost £27bn over five years and be a ‘reckless waste of public money’

Social Market Foundation calls on government to scrap freeze and use money to improve regional inequalities in access to transport

A permanent freeze in fuel duty would cost £27bn over the next five years and benefit the most wealthy in society, a think tank has warned.

The Social Market Foundation said keeping the freeze would be a “reckless waste of money” and undermine the government’s claims to believe in “sound money”.

The think tank called on ministers to unfreeze fuel duty and use the revenue to address the rising costs of driving and “regional inequalities” in access to transport.