Queues Return To Havering Petrol Stations As Prices Rise Campaigners Warn Of “Opportunistic Profiteering”

Havering residents were once again queuing across supermarket fuel stations yesterday as petrol prices rose sharply across the borough.

Campaign group FairFuelUK says it has received reports from more than 120 supporters across the UK claiming pump prices have increased significantly in the last 48 hours.

A spokesperson said: “120+ FairFuelUK supporters have contacted the campaign from all across the UK to report that pump prices have increased in the last 48 hours by an average of 6.7p for petrol and 8.8p for diesel.

“Most of these forecourts, many believe, are selling fuel at these higher prices even though they bought these stocks before any wholesale rises. It seems opportunistic profiteering is rife once again.”

The Havering Daily visited one garage between Hornchurch and Elm Park yesterday where petrol had risen by around 4p per litre, with drivers expressing frustration at the sudden increase.

Many motorists told this paper they felt price rises often appear quickly at the pumps but take much longer to come down.

Despite concerns about rising fuel costs, the government has not increased fuel duty this year.

The Chancellor, confirmed in the 2025 Budget that the 5p per litre fuel duty cut first introduced in 2022 will remain in place until September 2026 to help ease the cost of living for drivers.

This means motorists have avoided what would have been an immediate 5p per litre tax increase earlier this year.

However, the government has already confirmed that the temporary cut will begin to be reversed later in 2026, with duty expected to rise in stages:

• +1p per litre in September 2026
• +2p per litre in December 2026
• +2p per litre in March 2027

After that, fuel duty could once again increase annually in line with inflation.

Fuel duty has been largely frozen in the UK since 2011, but the gradual return to previous rates means drivers may begin to feel further pressure on fuel costs from late 2026 onwards.

The government is also introducing a new “Fuel Finder” system, designed to allow motorists to compare real-time petrol prices and identify cheaper forecourts, in an attempt to improve transparency and competition between retailers.

As queues appeared again at several Havering forecourts this week, motorists are once more asking the same question: are rising pump prices really justified, or are drivers simply paying the price of a system stacked against them?

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