Kemi Badenoch urges Andy Burnham to ditch looming 5p fuel duty rise or risk hammering hard-up drivers

KEMI Badenoch has called on Andy Burnham to axe the looming 5p fuel duty hike as one of his next cost-of-living measures. She warned that the increase due to come in next year will hammer drivers and increase inflation. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Andy Burnham to axe the looming 5p fuel duty hike Kemi warned that Burnham’s move will hammer drivers and increase inflation Credit: Reuters The Tory Party leader also ­challenged Labour’s new Prime Minister to rule out tax rises to pay for his spending spree. Asked by The Sun if Mr Burnham should axe the fuel duty hike, she said: “The Conservatives froze fuel duty throughout the 14 years we were in office. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! “There is a cost of living crisis and increasing fuel duty will only make that worse. “And it’s not just going to make it worse for drivers. It will make it worse for anyone who relies on deliveries and anything that relies on transport to do their business. “It will increase inflation. It is not necessary. So that’s the sort of thing which he should be finding the money for.” Ms Badenoch made the comments in a speech in which she likened Mr Burnham to Tory PM Liz Truss. She said: “He needs to rule out tax rises to pay for his spending spree.” A Labour Party spokesperson hit back at Ms Badenoch saying the “economy-crashing Tories haven’t got a clue”. Most read in The Sun They added: “Andy Burnham is bringing back hope after Kemi Badenoch’s Tory Party nearly broke Britain. “More of the same failed Tory politics that let people down for years is a recipe for disaster and will only hold Britain back.” Comment now