Richard Walker, the executive chair of Iceland and the government's cost of living champion, has urged Labour leader Keir Starmer to extend the 5p fuel duty cut, which is set to expire in September. This call comes in response to rising petrol prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly the blockade of the strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit route. Since the conflict escalated, diesel prices in the UK have surged by 30%, reaching an average of 185.2p per litre, while petrol prices have climbed 16% to an average of 154.5p per litre. Walker highlighted that other countries, such as Australia, have already implemented cuts to fuel taxes, suggesting that the UK government should consider similar measures. The previous Conservative government had introduced the fuel duty cut in March 2022, which was extended until August 2023. Starmer has indicated that the planned rise in fuel duty will be kept “under review” due to the ongoing crisis. Opposition parties are also pressing for action, with proposals ranging from scrapping VAT on energy bills to reducing VAT on fuel.