Hard-pressed drivers ‘MUST be spared fuel duty hike as tensions in Middle East push up global oil prices'

Read on to find out what many MPs fear Rachel Reeves has planned for drivers
FUEL FEARS Hard-pressed drivers 'MUST be spared fuel duty hike as tensions in Middle East push up global oil prices'
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DRIVERS must be spared a fuel duty hike as tensions in the Middle East push up global oil prices, MPs have warned.
New figures show petrol prices rose to 132.1p a litre yesterday, threatening to end a three-and-a-half month run of falls.
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Drivers must be spared a fuel duty hike as tensions in the Middle East push up global oil prices, MPs have warned
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Fears are growing Chancellor Rachel Reeves could look to scrap the 5p duty cut to shore up the public finances
Credit: Getty
Wholesale costs have already surged 3p a litre in a week and are still rising.
The AA says the spike is being fuelled by conflict between Israel and Iran plus surging demand from the US summer motoring season.
Now fears are growing Chancellor Rachel Reeves could look to scrap the 5p duty cut to shore up the public finances.
Tory MP Saqib Bhatti said: 'As she struggles to make her accounts balance, Rachel Reeves needs to be clear she won't be hammering motorists to fill the black hole that she has created.'
Labour MP Graeme Downie added: 'The Chancellor said in the spending review she wanted to do everything she can to keep money in people's pockets.
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The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty since 2011
'At a time of volatility, that means keeping fuel duty as low as possible.'
The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty since 2011.
A Treasury spokesman said: 'Our Plan for Change is putting more money in the pockets of working people.
'We extended the fuel duty cut this year, saving drivers £3billion.'

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Scottish Sun

5 hours ago

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Vladimir Putin rages ‘all of Ukraine is ours' as he threatens to seize key city while Kyiv slams tyrant as ‘deranged'

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TYRANT Vladimir Putin cemented his territorial ambitions by proclaiming "all of Ukraine" belonged to Russia and threatening to invade more land. Ukraine slammed Putin's comments as "deranged" and called for Kyiv's allies to slap "devastating sanctions" on Russia. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Ukrainian soldiers of 43rd artillery brigade fire self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions Credit: AP 10 An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike Credit: Reuters 10 Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the main session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) Credit: Getty 10 Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum in Saint Petersburg, Putin reaffirmed his long-held claim that Russians and Ukrainians are "one people". He declared: "In that sense, all of Ukraine is ours. "There is a saying: wherever a Russian soldier sets foot, that is ours," he added. The narrative is central to Putin's rhetoric, which he has used to justify his invasion of Ukraine. However, he said Russia is ready to recognise Ukraine's sovereignty. But he reiterated his demand that Kyiv accept the realities of Moscow's territorial gains and abandon plans to join Nato. Putin said: "We aren't seeking Ukraine's surrender, we want them to recognise the realities on the ground," adding that Moscow has repeatedly warned Kyiv to make a deal. Asked about Moscow's goals in Ukraine, Putin threatened to take Sumy - a key Ukrainian city - as part of the creation of a "buffer zone". He repeated that Moscow was "advancing on all fronts" and that his troops had penetrated up to seven miles into the Sumy region. Putin said: "We have to create a security zone along the border. Putin has lost a MILLION men - Ukraine has killed so many it is running out of ammo "We have no objective to take Sumy, but in principle I do not rule it out... They pose a constant threat to us, constantly shelling the border areas." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga described Putin's comments as "deranged" and called for Kyiv's allies to slap "devastating sanctions" on Russia. "The only way to force Russia into peace is to deprive it of its sense of impunity," he wrote in a post on X. Putin's widening territorial ambitions are likely to roil Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has accused Moscow of not wanting to end the fighting. The two sides held rounds of direct talks in Istanbul in May and in June, but Kyiv accused Moscow of sending "dummy" negotiators with no real power to enact a peace deal. Putin has declined to take part in the peace talks in person and on Thursday said he would only meet Zelensky during a "final phase" of negotiations on ending the three-year conflict. He has also insisted that Ukraine give up territory it already controls for peace. Kyiv says it cannot and will not accept Russian occupation of any part of its land. 10 Firefighters try to extinguish after a Russian drone attack in Kharkiv Credit: Getty 10 Ukrainian service members firing an anti-tank guided missile weapon system Credit: Reuters 10 Artillerymen of the 15th Operative Purpose Brigade Kara-Dag firing towards Russia Credit: Reuters It comes as Putin's battlefield casualties have soared past the bloody one million milestone after 40 months of meatgrinder war. Ukraine's fierce resistance forced Russia to pay a mighty toll for every inch of land it has taken, and its advances remain painfully slow. The staggering milestone includes troops who have been killed or wounded so severely that they cannot fight on. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, one million Russian military troops have been put out of action since February 24, 2022, with 628,000 of those casualties occurring in the last six months. Burning through a million troops has won Putin just 20 per cent of Ukraine's total territory - mainly in southern and eastern areas - which is a humiliating conversion rate. Despite the devastating losses which have already ripped a scar in Russian society, experts fear that Putin is likely unaffected by the numbers. Zelensky confirmed that Moscow has been attempting to gain ground in the border regions of Sumy in the northeast. Even with the death toll climbing higher by the day Putin appears to be doubling down. The bloody milestone comes as Putin calls for a major upgrade to Russia's ground forces, Ukrainian outlet Pravda reports. 10 The Kremlin tyrant declared them the 'dominant force' in modern warfare and demanded faster development of 'advanced weapons systems' with 'the highest tactical and technical specifications.' In a meeting on the state armaments programme, Putin also directed resources toward strengthening Russia's navy, further signalling his long-term military ambitions. It all comes as Russia is reportedly building up a 50,000-strong force alongside the border of Kharkiv amid fears of a fresh summer offensive to attack the city. With the US backing out of direct negotiations to broker a peace deal and Putin stalling ceasefire talks, experts fear a major Russian offensive could mobilise in the coming weeks. The Ukrainian military in April reported that the Kremlin was amassing troops to prepare for a fresh assault on Kharkiv - Ukraine's second largest city. Military analysts believe he is trying to press home his advantage and capture more Ukrainian land. They warn that Putin only has a "four-month window" to get a breakthrough in Ukraine this year. And this could be the beginning of Russia's summer offensive targeting the border city of Kharkiv - the "fortress" city of Ukraine which put up the maximum resistance at the start of the invasion. 10 Fire burns in the debris of a private house that was destroyed in a Russian rocket strike Credit: Reuters

Scottish Sun

7 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Incredible way to get designer clothes, perfumes and gadgets for less than a tenner

Read on to get some bad news if you're a driver BAG A BARGAIN Incredible way to get designer clothes, perfumes and gadgets for less than a tenner Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EVERYWHERE I look there are hundreds of suitcases in different colours, shapes and sizes. But I'm not in an airport arrivals lounge and there is no luggage carousel in sight. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The Sun's Adele tried her luck at an unclaimed luggage auction in London Credit: Simon Jones 5 Trainers were available at bargain prices - a pair of cream Prada Pegasus trainers worth £600 sold for £40 Credit: Simon Jones 5 Sniffing out a bargain with many perfumes waiting to be snapped up Credit: Simon Jones Instead, I'm at a suitcase auction at Greasbys in Tooting, South London, where you can buy unclaimed luggage from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted for a fraction of the price. Luggage usually goes missing when you have a connecting flight with a different airline, as there is a higher chance your belongings could get lost. Six bags went missing for every 1,000 checked in last year, according to aviation data company Sita. If your bag never arrives and you don't tell the airport, it may be passed to an auction house to sell to the highest bidder. Here's how to bag a bargain of your own . . . HOW IT WORKS GREASBYS has been selling lost luggage for more than 50 years. It holds online-only auctions every other Wednesday. Bidders must email their sealed bids before the auction starts. The person who makes the highest offer wins the item. You can go to the actual auction house the day before to check the suitcases and bags — which is what I'm here to do. I'm surprised to discover you can't open the luggage to inspect the actual items. Every bag and suitcase comes with a label describing the contents. You are unlikely to find high-value items inside luggage. I spent £136 to see if the lost luggage trend was worth it - I thought I'd nab designer goodies but it was a total flop Designer clothes, gadgets, bags and shoes are taken out and sold individually. High-street clothes in good condition are also removed, bagged and sold as one lot. There are typically 20 items to a bag, which usually go for at least £10. Most cases sell for between £18 to £60. The airports are sent the profits from sales, after the auction house takes a cut. If you're worried about ending up with someone's dirty smalls, don't be alarmed. Christine Sachett, owner of Greasbys, says: 'The staff go through every suitcase. They also remove more personal items.' ANY BARGAINS? I FIND two children's Tommy Hilfiger coats, one in hot pink and another in navy blue. They retail at £75 each but sell for £10.80. And my eyes widen as I spy a pair of cream Prada Pegasus trainers worth £600 and sold for £40. A pink and ivory scarf from Mulberry is just my style — it sells for £31.50. There are 15 people browsing in Greasbys and many are regulars. 'Some people work and need to supplement their income, some people actually do it for a living,' Christine said. One regular buys suitcases and sells them on his market stall in Portobello Road. SECRET BIDDING TIPS MAKE sure the wheels and zips are intact when buying a suitcase. 'Check the name of the suitcase and research how much it would normally cost you,' Christine said. 'Some of the big holdalls on wheels are nearly £100 to buy, depending on the bag.' Buying suitcases can often be a mixed bag. 'Unless the owner was unlucky and lost their bag on their way out, or they get everything laundered while they are on holiday, you could be buying someone's dirty holiday clothes,' she said. Do not focus on the weight. 'If it is heavy it could mean it is full of cheap clothing,' she said. 'Lighter ones may have really nice clothing inside.' WATCH OUT FOR FEES 5 Christine Sachett, owner of Greasbys Credit: Simon Jones FEES are added on top of the hammer price. A buyer's premium will be charged, which is 26 per cent of the cost. VAT, 20 per cent, is also added to the premium only. So a £50 item is £65.60. ARE THERE OTHERS? INDEPENDENT auction house Mulberry Bank in Glasgow holds two lost luggage sales a month. Bristol Commercial Valuers and Auctioneers also holds online lost luggage auctions. BEFORE YOU BID GREASBYS does not offer any guarantees or warranties. If there is something wrong with your item, Greasbys won't give you a refund, a replacement, or fix it for you. That means it's a risk buying items locked inside the luggage, as you can't see if they are in good nick. When buying at an auction, Gurpreet Chhokar from consumer site Which? warns you may not benefit from the same protections as with a retailer. She said: 'You might not be able to change your mind and get a refund. 'Check any terms and conditions relating to auction sales carefully.' You may also lose a powerful consumer protection, Section 75, when making payments to the auction house using a credit card, she added. Usually, it allows you to claim money back from your credit card provider if something goes wrong. I PAID £130, THIS IS WHAT WAS INSIDE... SENIOR Fabulous Digital Writer Abigail Wilson bought an unclaimed suitcase from Undelivrd, and here's what she found . . . I WAS intrigued to see if I'd bag exciting treasures. I ordered my case for £129.99 from Undelivrd, a warehouse that sells lost Royal Mail parcels, Amazon return pallets and forgotten baggage. The size and brand of case you get will be random. The contents are also a surprise. When the case arrived, it was wrapped in a bin bag. The case was an American Tourister, which is worth £129, but pretty battered. A mouldy smell hit me before I even unzipped it. Rather than pricey clothes or electricals, the contents left me gutted – smelly socks, worn boxers and dirty hoodies. I was excited when I spotted a White Company toiletry bag. But then I realised it's a freebie you get on long-haul BA flights. A pair of leather shoes from Asda, £25 if bought new, was the only decent thing I found. I totted up the cost of the contents and was surprised to see that, when bought new, the items would come to £223.98. If you include the cost of the case, it added up to just over £350. But it was nothing near what I had hoped for, so it really is a lucky dip when ordering lost luggage online. I GOT FREEBIES WORTH £62 IN 24 HOURS WHO doesn't love a freebie? There is no better feeling than getting your hands on a coffee, meal or drink without spending a penny. That's why I spent a day hoovering up bargains along my local high street, including coffee, spring rolls, and even a cocktail – and managed to get nearly £62 worth of goodies. Shops often offer customers freebies to promote new products, reward them for their loyalty or to attract new shoppers. Food and drink prices have soared in the past few years, making it more expensive to grab a treat. So I was eager to see how many freebies I could get my hands on in 24 hours. At 8.30am I popped into my local Greggs to grab my first freebie of the day – a black coffee, worth £1.90. I had downloaded the Greggs app the night before and all I needed to do was open the app and activate the reward. What a result! At 1pm the hunt began for a bargain lunch. I headed to Chopstix Noodle Bar, as I heard that you can get five free spring rolls worth £2.50 if you download the shop's app. I signed up, and in minutes, a coupon for the snack appeared in my account. They were just how I like them – crunchy on the outside and still warm from the oven. At 1.40pm I ventured over to visit a Mac Cosmetics near the office and asked for some testers. I got two 10ml samples of Hyper Real Serumizer, a bestseller, which costs £80 for a 50ml bottle. My samples are worth £12.80. At 6pm I met my friends at the pub. I used an app called Dusk, which helps you find free drinks at bars. The Pembroke in Earl's Court was giving away one free Hugo Spritz worth £10 to every customer, so I went and claimed mine. Cheers! lI also got: Blueberry muffin £3.75; taco £3.49; cappuccino £4.10; cosmetic samples £15.91; Nicotine pouches, £6.50; cat food 19p DROOPER MARKETS SUPERMARKETS suffered a 'dismal' month of May as shoppers cut back on booze and tobacco spending, figures reveal. The total volume of retail sales fell by 2.7 per cent — dropping at the fastest rate in more than a year — the Office for National Statistics says. 5 Supermarkets suffered a 'dismal' month of May as shoppers cut back on booze and tobacco spending, figures reveal Credit: Alamy This compared with a 1.3 per cent rise in April. May's overall retail sales came in considerably below the 0.7 per cent decline that most economists had been expecting for the month. ONS senior statistician Hannah Finselbach said: 'Retail sales fell sharply in May with their largest monthly fall since the end of 2023. This was mainly due to a dismal month for food retailers, especially supermarkets, following strong sales in April. 'Feedback suggested reduced purchases for alcohol and tobacco, with customers choosing to make cutbacks.' She added that clothing and homeware stores were reporting reduced footfall in May. A drop in demand for DIY items last month followed the sunny weather in April that had boosted home improvement projects. Despite May's decline, retail sales volumes rose by 0.8 per cent across the three months to May, compared with the three months to February. Nicholas Found, head of commercial content at research consultancy Retail Economics, said: 'The cost of living remains the dominant concern for households.' PETROL PRICES RISING PETROL prices are on the rise again after fuel costs fell to their lowest levels since July 2021. The AA said average prices of unleaded hit 132.8p on Thursday, after they bottomed out at 132.3p last month. Diesel was 138.9p a litre on Thursday, after a low of 138.1p. Tensions in the Middle East have pushed up global oil prices. The AA's Luke Bosdet said: 'Oil prices look daunting but the impact's been limited.' SUPPLY PAIN THE supermarket watchdog has launched a new probe into Amazon. The Grocery Code Adjudicator will look at whether it breached rules on treatment of suppliers. It will focus on its delays to paying them, deductions to commercial negotiations, and how it manages supplier concerns. Leading ombudsman Mark White said: 'The alleged delays could expose Amazon suppliers to excessive risk and unexpected costs, potentially affecting their ability to invest and innovate.' TAX TWEAK MAJOR changes to council tax are coming with a Government shake-up. Millions of households could make the payments over 12 months instead of ten under plans to help households manage their finances better. A consultation launched yesterday also laid out plans to make town halls wait longer before demanding a bill is paid in full and cap liability orders. If just one payment is missed, a council currently can demand bills are paid for an entire year.

Daily Mirror

7 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Reason playing EuroMillions now gives you best chance of winning £14m jackpot

EuroMillions runners Allwyn have said people could be within a better chance of winning the coveted grand prize if they get in on the ground floor after a rollover EuroMillions players have their best chances of winning the multi-million-pound jackpot ever for one key reason, the lotto organisers have revealed. The grand prize - which grew to an incredible £208 million (€250 million) this week before it was claimed by one ultra-lucky Irish winner - has reset, and returns tonight with a much reduced but still sizeable £14 million fortune up for grabs. Potentially hundreds of millions of people will be buying EuroMillions tickets as they jostle for an opportunity to scoop up the life-changing cash, despite the generally slim chances of a possible win. According to organisers Allwyn, people who play for the unajusted base amount have a better chance of winning. ‌ ‌ A spokesperson for the firm said that fewer people tend to play when the prize is "just" £14 million, with more players crawling out of the woodwork when the sum reaches eye-popping nine-figures. They told The Sun "excitement grows" as the jackpot multiplies, with more groups and "syndicates" joining the fray as it continues to gather steam. They said: "EuroMillions is designed to be a huge, rolling jackpot game. So, we always have more people enter as the jackpot rises and excitement grows. "We also see more syndicates and groups playing the game as the jackpot climbs. However, every draw, the odds of winning the jackpot remain the same no matter what the jackpot amount." The spokesperson added it could be argued that, when fewer people participate in a EuroMillions draw, they are "less likely to share" their winnings with others. They concluded: "You could possibly argue that, if fewer people play, then you are potentially less likely to share the jackpot with other winners." The odds of winning at all, however, remain vanishingly slim at roughly one in 139,838,160, a rate that remains unchanged regardless of the number of people who buy tickets. ‌ The chances of winning any one of the smallest totals is also quite low, with one in 621,503 people winning the lowest four-figure amount of £1,405.23. The chances of winning just over a tenner in the draw are nearly one in 1,000, and only one in 22 players stand a chance of picking up just £2.72. The last EuroMillions jackpot winner was a player who purchased their ticket at a shop in County Cork, Ireland, who came forward to claim their prize on June 19. Little else is known about the mysterious jackpot winner, who is the 18th person from Ireland to claim the prize, which is the largest to be received in the country. The last person to win the EuroMillions jackpot came forward in February 2022, when they claimed a quick pick ticket worth £25.6 million (€30.9 million).