Warnings of UK fuel protests as Iran war sends price of diesel to £2 a litre

Farmers are planning fuel protests in England [1] after the Iran war [2] sent fuel prices [3] soaring to GBP2 per litre, it has been reported. Ireland has already faced nationwide fuel protests from farming organisations this week [4] over soaring petrol and diesel [5]prices [6], which have caused significant disruption and threats to critical supplies throughout the country. Now farming organisations in the UK are set to meet next week to discuss nationwide demonstrations in Britain, according to reports in The Telegraph. [7]

A source told the paper: "We've hit the GBP2 mark on a litre of diesel. That's a scary place to be. It will be a matter of time before people in this country start to go out and protest.

"Farmers are the last people who want to go out and protest. You have to remember this is a very busy time of the year for us. But with the inheritance tax protests, you've got the groups that have been set up.

The infrastructure is there to mobilise."

open image in gallery

Petrol prices have been sent soaring by the war in the Middle East (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

"Discussions have been had, and there will be a few people coming together at the beginning of next week to see what can be done." The National Farmers Union told The Independent it had not heard from the farming community about plans for protests similar to those in Ireland. An NFU spokesperson said: "The war in Iran is deeply concerning, particularly for those across the Middle East.

The resulting disruption to global oil and gas markets is putting a significant strain on farmers and growers, who are already under immense economic pressure and can't absorb additional increases in costs. "While we are working hard to support our members and have been in constant contact with Defra [The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] and wider government on things it can do to support the farming sector at this critical time, we don't support protests that have the potential to inconvenience the public and further disrupt supply chains. "Farming has strong public support, for which we are extremely grateful, and it is important that nothing undermines that."

open image in gallery

Tractors block O'Connell Street during a fuel protest in Dublin (AP)

Fuel prices have been soaring since the onset of the US, Israel and Iran war, which resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping lane.

The average price of diesel in the UK has now surpassed 190p a litre, figures this week revealed, having surged by more than a third since the conflict began and hitting the record high seen in 2022. On Saturday, peace talks between the US and Iran failed to produce a deal, meaning the Strait of Hormuz is still closed, which could drive fuel prices even higher. The protests in Ireland, largely led by hauliers, farmers, and agricultural workers, as separate but coordinated efforts, have now entered their sixth day for some participants.

Irish protesters not only targeted major motorways with slow-moving convoys but also the country's sole oil refinery and key depots. The escalating police response has seen public order units deployed in Cork, Galway, and Dublin [8], resulting in several arrests. On Sunday, Ireland's government called an emergency Cabinet [9] meeting as it prepared to sign off on measures it hopes will bring protests over fuel costs to an end.

On Friday, Northern Ireland's political leaders urged Sir Keir Starmer, [10]to act "decisively and without delay" to help people suffering due to rising fuel costs in the region.

Defra was approached for comment.

References

^ England (www.independent.co.uk)
^ war (www.independent.co.uk)
^ fuel prices (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Dublin fuel protesters 'ambushed' by police as government plans end to blockades (www.independent.co.uk)
^ diesel (www.independent.co.uk)
^ prices (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Cabinet to hold emergency meeting on sixth day of fuel protests (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Dublin (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Cabinet (www.independent.co.uk)
^ Keir Starmer, (www.independent.co.uk)