Oxford News
UK fuel duty rise scrapped by Keir Starmer to help motorists
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the 5p per litre fuel duty cut introduced in March 2022 will remain in place until the end of the year.
It was originally due to increase by 1p per litre on September 1, followed by two 2p rises on December 1 and March 1.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “Families across the United Kingdom are facing impacts of a war that we did not choose.
“This is not our war, but while the parties opposite wanted to jump into it, Labour will always protect working people.”
Trade in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupted by Iran’s restrictions on tanker movements, has driven up UK fuel costs by an average of 26p per litre for petrol and 44p for diesel since the conflict began on February 28.
Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, welcomed the extension.
Mr Gooding said: “Although today’s news on fuel duty won’t have the immediate effect of bringing forecourt prices down, at least it shows that ministers have registered the financial pain caused by rampant pump prices for individuals and for business.
“Since the start of the Iran conflict, drivers have already paid a war premium of a staggering £3 billion in inflated fuel prices, half-a-billion of which has gone to the Exchequer in VAT receipts.”
Sir Keir also confirmed that hauliers will receive a “12-month road tax holiday.”
The Treasury said this will reduce their annual renewal cost to £1, saving a typical heavy lorry operator £600 and those with the largest vehicles £912.
The RAC reported on Tuesday that the average price of petrol in the UK has risen to 158.5p per litre, the highest since December 2022.
It warned that further rises are likely, with pump prices expected to reach at least 160p in the coming weeks.
Additional relief has been promised to users of red diesel, including farmers and rail freight operators.
The Government will cut the duty from 10.18p to 6.48p per litre from June 15 until the end of the year.
Downing Street said the total package of measures will cost £455 million.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Given the current impact of the conflict, it is right to extend the 5p cut to the end of this year.”
It remains unclear whether the 5p duty cut will continue beyond 2026.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to outline longer-term plans for fuel duty in the autumn Budget.
John Cassidy, Managing Director at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “The Government’s decision to postpone the fuel duty rise will provide some respite to motorists.
“Events in the Middle East means drivers have been feeling the pinch at the pumps at a time when the cost of motoring continues to soar, putting strain on household finances.
“With 42% of motorists stating that they have been worried about further petrol price rises, the announcement should go some way to alleviating financial stress.
“However, many will see this as papering over the cracks of much wider concerns, and will expect the Government to implement further measures to ensure drivers can afford the cost of driving – something that is essential to the daily lives of millions.”
The parcel delivery company has installed new lockers at the supermarket just off Hadden Hill in Didcot, one of only a handful across the UK.
A spokesperson for Evri said: “Customers using the lockers will have access to Evri’s pick-up and drop-off services, providing a quick, contact-free method for sending and receiving parcels, with ‘print-at-locker’ functionality, alongside fast and seamless QR code scanning.”
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Since March this year a number of parcel lockers have been installed at Post Office branches and Asda stores but this announcement marks a new step forward with Tesco.
A spokesperson for the supermarket said: “We’re constantly looking for ways to make the shopping trip even more convenient for our customers.
“As part of an ongoing locker hub partner trial across a small number of stores, we have introduced parcel lockers to give even more customers a convenient way to collect and drop off their parcels as part of their shopping trip.”
READ MORE: Evri statement as UK delivery firm contractor shuts with drivers fired
In addition Royal Mail, Yeep and InPost are introducing lockers including at the Didcot branch and Tesco said it was excited to see how customers respond to this new innovation.
A spokesperson for Evri added that the new scheme comes amid a growing trend in consumer appetite for choice.
Its internal data showed a 19 per cent increase in parcel diversions to lockers, compared with 2025, and a 343 per cent increase in usage of the lockers.
Dr Harini Amarasuriya spoke at St Antony’s College on Tuesday, May 19, as part of the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) Annual Lecture.
Her address, titled ‘The politics of development: Sri Lanka and beyond,’ explored the realities of development policy in practice, with a focus on governance, gender equality, and the influence of grassroots women’s groups on political participation in Sri Lanka.
Professor Diego Sanchez-Ancochea, head of department at OSGA, said: “We were honoured to welcome Dr Amarasuriya to Oxford to deliver the OSGA Annual Lecture.
“She offered an important and timely reflection on the relationship between politics and development, drawing on both scholarly insight and direct political experience.”
During the lecture, Dr Amarasuriya discussed how development theory collides with the complexities of real-world politics.
She considered her role as Sri Lanka’s third female prime minister and the country’s ongoing efforts to recover from its recent economic crisis.
As a social anthropologist, activist, and development practitioner, Dr Amarasuriya drew on her extensive experience to highlight the challenges of implementing reform in complex political environments.
She also emphasised the importance of productive engagement between international agencies and domestic institutions.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, covering topics such as judicial independence, the pace of political change, and the balance between academic ideals and political pragmatism.
The OSGA Annual Lecture is the department’s flagship event, designed to bring leading academics, policymakers, and practitioners to Oxford to reflect on contemporary global challenges.
Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sara moved to Vancouver, Canada, as a refugee before returning to her country of birth for most of her 20s.
It was then that she co-founded civic technology start-up Ehtesab before moving on to become the CEO of Civaam.
At the age of just 25 years old, she was recognised as one of TIME Magazine’s Next Generation Leaders in 2021.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Sara Wahedi reflects on life in Oxford and studying at the university
Graduated from Oxford University today.
We made it to the finish line. 🎓 pic.twitter.com/pG8t2S7APB
— Sara Wahedi (@SaraWahedi) May 24, 2026
Having completed her undergraduate studies at Columbia University in New York City, Ms Wahedi became a Clarendon Scholar at Oxford University in 2024.
Having undertaken a Master of Public Policy (MPP), the 29-year-old has now graduated from the prestigious institution.
Attending the formal ceremony yesterday (Saturday, May 24), Ms Wahedi shared several photographs across social media.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, she said: “It’s been one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences of my life to study at Oxford.
“I’m especially grateful to the residents of Oxford and how they make students feel like they are at home, especially when we’re far from our parents.
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“My mother was there, and it was quite emotional to see her there sitting at the top of the Sheldonian, remembering all she’s done, and having sacrificed her own dreams and aspirations to flee Afghanistan so I could chase my own.”
Ms Wahedi remains focused on the future with her role at the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice.
This institute is a partnership between the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government and the Clooney Foundation for Justice and sees the 29-year-old placed in a research associate role.
Guiding the technology pillar, Sara is now working in a team with the likes of Amal Clooney and Philippa Webb, as well as other lawyers and technologists leading in the space globally.
READ MORE: New Cotswolds village given green light to be built as plans approved
“During the graduation ceremony, I was constantly thinking about the privilege and opportunity I had been given, having once been a refugee from Afghanistan, to then study at one of the top universities in the world,” added Ms Wahedi.
“Millions of Afghan women and girls will experience their fifth year, half a decade, of being banned from education by the Taliban.
“My work and mission remain to bring awareness to this horrific human rights violation, and to protect the fundamental right to education for every girl across the world.
“I’m grateful that I get to continue to call Oxford home as I remain committed to our important work in responsible AI deployment at the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice.”
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