RAC boss brands cheaper fuel in Northern Ireland 'galling' for other UK motorists

The RAC has welcomed a 6p per litre fall in fuel prices across Great Britain last month, but questioned how “prices are so vastly different in two parts of the UK”.

The comments were made in response to the latest figures, which show that petrol and diesel are at least 5p a litre cheaper on this side of the Irish Sea.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams described the discrepancy as “galling,” and said: “We continue to call on the biggest retailers to play fair with drivers and lower their prices to match what's being charged in Northern Ireland”.

The average price of the fuel at UK forecourts decreased from 146.7p on December 1 to 140.6p on December 31, the RAC said.

It was the second consecutive monthly price cut.

This has brought petrol prices down to a level last seen in early February 2022, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked a surge in the cost of oil.

The average price of a litre of diesel fell from 154.3p to 149.2p in December.

But the RAC said pump prices should be reduced further as the average supermarket margin on fuel was 13p per litre last month, which is more than double what it was in 2021.

The motoring services company also noted that average fuel prices in Northern Ireland at the end of the month were 135.3p per litre for petrol and 144.2p per litre for diesel.

In July last year, competition watchdog the Competition and Markets Authority said pump prices are generally lower in Northern Ireland than the rest of the UK because of competition from forecourts in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Williams said: "It's clearly good news that both petrol and diesel came down substantially in December.

"While we're starting the year paying much less at the pumps than we have done, it's still galling to know that drivers aren't being charged a fair price in comparison to Northern Ireland where the very same petrol and diesel is at least 5p a litre cheaper.

"It's surely impossible to argue that competition is working properly if prices are so vastly different in two parts of the UK.

"We continue to call on the biggest retailers to play fair with drivers and lower their prices to match what's being charged in Northern Ireland.”

However, PRA executive director Gordon Balmer hit back at the RAC, saying: “It is disappointing that as we work constructively with the relevant government departments to find a solution, we are forced to constantly correct the record”.

Mr Balmer said: "Our members are small businesses that have worked hard to keep their communities fuelled and fed. Retailers operate on razor thin margins to stay competitive, despite having to contend with the recent increases in fixed costs."

He added: “We urge the RAC to accept the invitation to engage in collaborative discussions, fostering an environment of cooperation and shared insights to benefit both the industry and consumers."