{"id":574219,"date":"2026-03-30T13:21:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T13:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/574219\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T13:21:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T13:21:11","slug":"petrol-prices-latest-motorists-hit-by-23-year-record-over-cost-of-diesel-as-starmer-prepares-for-emergency-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/574219\/","title":{"rendered":"Petrol prices latest: Motorists hit by 23-year record over cost of diesel as Starmer prepares for emergency talks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starmer says ‘normal use, no need to change’ on increasing oil pricesYour support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n

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Motorists have been hit by further prices rises at the pump, with experts predicting the impact of the Iran war could be felt for months.<\/p>\n

The conflict in the Gulf has seen Iran continue its stranglehold on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to soaring oil prices with the cost of a barrel rising more than 3 per cent on Monday to $117.<\/p>\n

Despite UK ministers insisiting<\/a> there is no need for fuel rationing, over the weekend the boss of Asda warned<\/a> of a temporary shortage at the pumps at the same time data reavealed<\/a> spending on fuel jumped 11 per cent in the week after the war started.<\/p>\n

Now latest data from the RAC shows the average price of a litre of diesel at UK forecourts has risen to 179.9p on Sunday, 28.5p more than petrol (151.4p), with the price difference at its highest level since at least 2003.<\/p>\n

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: \u201cIf oil prices remain at this level the impact on the forecourt could be felt for weeks, if not months.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer<\/a> launched Labour\u2019s local election campaign launch, warning that the backdrop to the elections was \u201cuncertain\u201d. Later, he will meet energy<\/a> bosses in Downing Street<\/a> to discuss emergency measures in response to the Middle East crisis.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Diesel price hits highest level since December 2022<\/p>\n

Diesel prices have reached their most expensive level since December 2022, new figures show, as the Iran oil crisis escalates.<\/p>\n

The RAC said the average price of a litre of the fuel at UK forecourts on Monday was 181.2p.<\/p>\n

That represents a 27% increase from 142.4p on February 28, the day the war in the Middle East began.<\/p>\n

Average petrol prices have reached 152.0p per litre, a rise of 14% from 132.8p over the same period.<\/p>\n

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: \u201cCompared to the start of the Iran conflict, it costs \u00a310.55 more to fill up a typical family car that runs on petrol, and \u00a321.35 more for a comparative diesel car.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe financial strain on the eight in 10 motorists that tell us they depend on their cars continues to build, and at a particularly rapid rate for those who drive diesel vehicles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alex Ross30 March 2026 14:14<\/p>\n

<\/a>Fears over fuel shortages unlikely to put off car trips this Easter, say AA<\/p>\n

The AA is predicting that more than 20 million road journeys will be made on the busiest days this Easter, despite the onging crisis in the Middle East, which is impacting fuel prices.<\/p>\n

With the price of unleaded petrol passing 150p, the cost of driving has increased compared to a year ago. <\/p>\n

However, the AA says this Easter will be one of the busiest for road traffic.<\/p>\n

Lee Morley, AA expert patrol, said: \u201cAfter what feels like a very long, wet winter, lots of families are looking forward to the Easter break.<\/p>\n

“With more than 20 million journeys expected on the busiest days, it\u2019s shaping up to be one of the busiest Easters on the roads in recent years.\u201d <\/p>\n

Alex Ross30 March 2026 13:45<\/p>\n

<\/a>The cheapest supermarket petrol prices<\/p>\n

As motorists face ongoing hikes at the petrol pumps, RAC has compiled a list of the prices charged at major supermarkets. <\/p>\n

\"LatestLatest supermarket petrol prices (RAC)<\/p>\n

Alex Ross30 March 2026 13:30<\/p>\n

<\/a>British troops will not join any ground invasion of Iran, Starmer says<\/p>\n

Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out putting British troops on the ground in Iran, as he insisted the UK will not be \u201cdragged in\u201d to Donald Trump\u2019s escalating war in the region.<\/p>\n

The US sparked fears over the weekend that it is preparing launch ground operations in Iran, as fighting between Tehran and Washington continues into its second month.<\/p>\n

The prime minister has faced criticism from both allies and enemies over his approach to the conflict, but doubled down on his position on Monday when asked if British troops could be sent to the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Alex Ross30 March 2026 13:15<\/p>\n

<\/a>Trump issues new warning to Iran<\/p>\n

US president Donald Trump has issued another warning to Iran on \u2060Monday to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk U.S attacks \u2060on \u200bits oil \u2060wells and power plants.<\/p>\n

“Great progress has \u2060been made but, \u200bif \u2060for any \u200creason a deal is not shortly reached, which \u200cit probably will \u200cbe, and if the Hormuz Strait is \u2060not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of \u200ctheir Electric Generating \u200bPlants, Oil \u200cWells and Kharg \u2060Island,” Mr Trump wrote \u2060in a social media \u200cpost.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Alex Ross30 March 2026 13:00<\/p>\n

<\/a>UK being updated by US ‘at every level’ on Iran operation<\/p>\n

The UK is in discussions with the US over its campaign against Iran at \u201cevery level\u201d, the government has said.<\/p>\n

On Monday, US president Donald Trump said that seizing Iran\u2019s Kharg Island, the country\u2019s main oil terminal in the Perisan Gulf, was on the table as he looks to end the war in the region that is impacting markets around the world.<\/p>\n

Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s official spokesperson said: \u201cOf course we\u2019re in discussions with the US at every level, you\u2019ve seen updates from the Prime Minister\u2019s conversations with the president, likewise with the Foreign Secretary\u2019s counterpart, and likewise with the Chancellor and Energy Secretary\u2019s counterparts, as well as joining various multilateral calls.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course we\u2019re engaging at every level to ensure that we\u2019re protecting British national interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Downing Street spokesperson also said the UK would not provide an ongoing narrative on the US operation.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIt\u2019s not for me to provide running commentary on our allies\u2019 operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to focus, as the Prime Minister has done, on British national interests, protecting people in the region, doing what we can to protect households from the impact here in the UK, and working with international allies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alex Ross30 March 2026 12:46<\/p>\n

<\/a>UK not facing a petrol shortage, Downing Street claims<\/p>\n

Petrol stations are \u201cwell-stocked nationally and any suggestion otherwise is incorrect\u201d, according to Downing Street.<\/p>\n

Asked whether the government was planning for any shortages, Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s spokesman replied: \u201cWe\u2019ll always plan for all eventualities.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cTo be very clear, as the PM (Sir Keir Starmer) has said and as the government have said, and indeed industry have said, fuel production and imports are continuing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe UK benefits from diverse and resilient supply.<\/p>\n

\u201cPetrol stations in the UK are well-stocked nationally and any suggestion otherwise is incorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alex Ross30 March 2026 12:32<\/p>\n

<\/a>Plaid Cymru leader urges voters to \u2018choose hope over division\u2019<\/p>\n

The leader of Plaid Cymru has urged voters to \u201cchoose hope over division\u201d as he launched his party\u2019s bid to end three decades of Labour rule in Wales.<\/p>\n

Rhun ap Iorwerth is hoping to form the first non-Labour led government in Cardiff Bay since devolution in 1999.<\/p>\n

An MRP poll published last week, conducted by YouGov for ITV Cymru Wales, suggested Plaid Cymru remains on course to be the biggest party in May, with Reform the second largest and Labour third.<\/p>\n

Mr ap Iorwerth, a former BBC journalist, also launched Plaid\u2019s key election pledges, which include cutting NHS waiting lists and speeding up treatment times, helping families with \u00a330,000 worth of free childcare, improving educational standards and tackling child poverty.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will stand up for Wales to get a fair deal from Westminster,\u201d he told supporters at the campaign launch at Bedwas Workmen\u2019s Hall & Institute in Caerphilly. <\/p>\n

\"PlaidPlaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ben Birchall\/PA) (PA Wire)<\/p>\n

Alex Ross30 March 2026 12:15<\/p>\n

<\/a>British troops will not be sent to Iran, says Sir Keir<\/p>\n

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted British boots will not be placed on the ground in Iran.<\/p>\n

Asked if he was considering deploying UK armed forces as the US musters its troops in the Middle East, Sir Keir told broadcasters: \u201cThis is not our war and we\u2019re not going to get drawn into it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we have done is taken defensive action: so we\u2019ve had our pilots up in the air since an hour or two after this war started, defending British lives, British interests and, of course, our allies in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n

The UK will continue to defend its interests and allies, and work to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Sir Keir said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we are not going to get dragged into this war,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\"YvetteYvette Cooper meeting soldiers during her visit to a British military base in Saudi Arabia earlier this month (Stefan Rousseau\/PA) (PA Wire)<\/p>\n

Alex Ross30 March 2026 12:00<\/p>\n

<\/a> Starmer to chair Cobra meeting following meeting with energy bosses <\/p>\n

The prime minister is set to chair another Cobra meeting looking at the economic impacts of the Iran war this week, following a roundtable with energy bosses this afternoon.<\/p>\n

Sir Keir Starmer will chair a Cobra meeting on Tuesday as the government grapples with the fallout of Donald Trump\u2019s war in the Middle East, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n

Asked about Monday\u2019s meeting, Sir Keir said: \u201cWe are bringing together the shipping sector, insurance and energy, because obviously that\u2019s a focus of concern.\u201cA lot of discussion about the Strait of Hormuz and what we can do to get the straits open, which is the single most effective way to bring energy prices down.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI will have a Cobra tomorrow, another Cobra, to look at the economic impacts of the war and making sure that everything that we need to have in place, everything is monitored and audited properly.\u201d <\/p>\n

Athena Stavrou30 March 2026 11:47<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Starmer says ‘normal use, no need to change’ on increasing oil pricesYour support helps us to tell the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":574220,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[64,63,99,164],"class_list":["post-574219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-business","tag-economy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/574219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=574219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/574219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/574220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=574219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=574219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=574219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}