Demands grow for action on fuel cost spike as Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly write to Keir Starmer
Northern Ireland’s two joint leaders have written to Keir Starmer demanding action over escalating fuel costs.
Among the measures which the pair want to see is “targeted support” aimed at farmers and hauliers.
They were speaking after Northern Ireland saw its sixth consecutive week of petrol and diesel price rises, based on the Consumer Council’s weekly survey of forecourts across the Province.
As of Thursday, petrol in Northern Ireland stood at an average of 153.1ppl (up 22.6% since the start of the war) and diesel stood at 185.6ppl (up 39.9%).
Meanwhile the cost of home heating oil has been at over £1 per litre for six weeks, with 500 litres costing an average of £612.37 – virtually double the pre-war price.
There had been a drop in the price of the raw material behind both – crude oil – after the two-week ceasefire was agreed on Wednesday, with the price of a barrel of Brent crude dipping from about $110 to almost $90.
But it has been rebounding upwards again since, and was back at around $97 at time of writing last night, according to the Financial Times.
Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle O’Neill and DUP Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly tonight released the following statement: “We are deeply concerned about the escalating pressures facing families, workers and businesses as fuel and energy costs continue to rise.
“The cost of fuel is putting significant pressure on, with increases not sustainable.
“These pressures are being felt in family homes here and beyond.
“Alongside rising fuel costs and escalating energy bills, there is also an impact on businesses.
“Our hauliers, our farmers, and small and medium-sized enterprises are facing sharply increased operating costs too and these costs are inevitably being passed on further, deepening the cost-of-living crisis.
“Families and businesses cannot continue to absorb these sustained increases without intervention which is why we are calling on the prime minister to bring forward a package of measures to support those under pressure.
“This package should include a reduction in fuel duty to ease pressure on both households and businesses, targeted support for hauliers, farmers, and SMEs, and a comprehensive cost of living support package.
“Given the scale and immediacy of this crisis, we have asked the prime minister to act decisively and without delay.”
This was echoed by the UUP, which released a party statement saying that as well as heating oil and red diesel rises, farmers “are dealing with mounting fertiliser costs that will inevitably have knock-on effects on food prices for everyone”.
It added: “The UUP will continue to call on the UK government to implement a realistic, long-term plan for a substantial cut in fuel duty and to do so immediately.
“Working families, businesses and our farming community need support.
“These are the people being punished simply for going out to work and keeping our economy moving.
“Freezing or reversing duty increases is no longer enough; the government needs bold action now.”