Petrol retailers U-turn on decision to axe crisis talks with Rachel Reeves over 'inflammatory language'

The PRA, a group representing both large and small independent petrol retailers across the UK, said: "The PRA wrote to the Chancellor for reassurance that the scheduled meeting be held in private, without media present to allow a conversation to explain how the fuel market works.

"As her office could not provide this, Gordon Balmer has withdrawn from the meeting."

GB News understands the language in question is understood to have come from both Ms Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, the former who said earlier today: "I will not tolerate any company exploiting the current situation to make excess profits at consumers' expense.

"I'm backing drivers and families - and I expect a fair deal at the pump," and the latter who added: "Tackling the cost of living is our number one priority - all fuel retailers must sign up for Fuel Finder so drivers can find the cheapest price at the pump. We will not hesitate to act to protect consumers against any unfair practices."

However, it is now understood that the PRA will attend the meeting with Chancellor Rachel Reeves after initially axing the talks.

The PRA had deleted a number of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to "inflammatory language" towards retail workers from the public.

The meeting was set up to address soaring petrol and diesel prices in response to the war in Iran and the associated spike in oil costs.

The latest data from the RAC shows that drivers are forking out more than £1.40 on average for a litre of unleaded, a hike of more than 7.3p per litre since the end of February.

Diesel motorists are seeing even larger price hikes at 158.23p per litre, with prices rising almost 16p since the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.

This represents a huge 11.1 per cent jump in costs for millions of diesel drivers, prompting calls for the Government to intervene and help drivers at the pumps.

In an urgent address to the House of Commons earlier this week, the Government confirmed that it was keeping all options "under review".

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The Chancellor wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ensure all customers are "not hit by undue increases in prices at this challenging time".

She stressed that the CMA would be able to crack down on "profiteering or exploitation" in order to protect hard-pressed motorists from forking out more than they should at the pumps.

The Labour MP for Leeds West and Pudsey said the benefits of Fuel Finder were being realised, adding that officials had been instructed to integrate the tool into map applications for further access to its information.

Experts have called on drivers to use Fuel Finder and other tools to shop around before heading to the pumps to save money and avoid forecourts that may be profiteering.

Commenting on the planned meeting between the Chancellor and fuel bosses, AA President Edmund King said the expansion of Fuel Finder was welcomed by the organisation.

He continued, saying: "As most goods and services are delivered by diesel vehicles, this will lead to price rises which the consumer will be stung with.

"We strongly encourage the Chancellor to delay the staggered reintroduction of the 5p fuel duty discount in order to offer some breathing space for hard-pressed households."

The 5p fuel duty cut, which was introduced after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is set to be reversed by 1p in September, 2p in December and 2p in March. It is expected that the Government will hike the rate of fuel duty in line with inflation in April 2027.