The Reform Party’s Nottinghamshire representatives have unveiled proposals to lower fuel costs nationwide following a demonstration at a countryside filling station. Robert Jenrick and Lee Anderson, amid vocal protests from Green Party supporters, revealed that petrol at the Gulf station on Southwell Road in Lowdham would drop by 13p per litre, with diesel reduced by 16p per litre. The single-day price cut on Tuesday, April 14, was funded by Reform UK as a symbolic gesture to Chancellor Rachel Reeves regarding escalating fuel expenses. The party is urging the government to implement an emergency 50% reduction in fuel VAT for a quarter in response to climbing fuel costs stemming from the Iran conflict.

As vehicles lined up along Southwell Road for the discounted fuel, Jenrick outlined the party’s intentions to abandon Labour’s proposed 5p fuel duty increase scheduled for September. Addressing the local democracy reporting service after assisting motorists and making the announcement, Jenrick emphasized that residents throughout Nottinghamshire and the entire nation are experiencing hardship due to mounting fuel expenses. He stated that families transporting children to school, tradespeople filling work vehicles, caregivers conducting multiple visits, alongside hauliers, farmers, and business owners dependent on fuel for operations are all struggling. He questioned how any Chancellor could contemplate increasing fuel duty by 5p during such challenging times with energy costs surging dramatically, describing Reeves as appearing inactive rather than fulfilling her ministerial duties and urging her to take action for citizens facing genuine difficulties.

Jenrick indicated that should his party secure a majority in the upcoming general election, comparable fuel initiatives would be implemented throughout the country, with the September fuel duty increase being cancelled in Reform’s initial budget. According to the Newark MP, households would save approximately £200 on average through the removal of VAT on domestic fuel alongside heating taxes and environmental levies. The LDRS requested comment from Lee Anderson regarding the reduced fuel prices, which he declined to provide. However, during the press conference announcing the fuel reductions, the Ashfield MP stated this represented the Reform pricing, achievable through eliminating net-zero policies and the green agenda, noting that today’s Green demonstration had arrived in a diesel vehicle—describing their stance as hypocritical.

To finance this £2.4 billion commitment, Reform had previously called on the government to abolish the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Carbon Capture Usage and Storage expenditure, asserting this would generate savings of roughly £12.1 billion by the end of the parliamentary term and provide immediate assistance to drivers. Nottinghamshire County Council leader Mick Barton and several other Reform councillors were present at Tuesday’s event. Speaking to the LDRS, Councillor Barton remarked this was simply something the government should be implementing, as residents are experiencing difficulties. Even despite conflict-related disruptions, he acknowledged the government’s reluctance to intervene but stressed they should be supporting local residents and businesses. The council leader expressed confidence the party would honor its fuel-related commitments, emphasizing that governing requires responding to challenges professionally and appropriately, noting the proposals involve only modest duty and tax reductions rather than billions of pounds, and suggesting such measures would benefit the economy.

In March, Jenrick participated in a comparable Reform UK event at a filling station in adjacent Derbyshire alongside party leader Nigel Farage. The LDRS contacted the Treasury following comments at Reform’s Tuesday event, with a Treasury spokesperson responding that claims regarding VAT revenue were misleading and economically unfounded, explaining that when fuel and household energy costs increase, consumers reduce other spending typically subject to VAT. They acknowledged drivers are facing higher pump prices due to the Iran conflict, stating this is not Britain’s conflict and the British Government chose not to participate, while remaining committed to keeping costs manageable for motorists through extending the 5p fuel duty reduction and advocating for de-escalation.