Prime Minister Andy Burnham has faced a backlash after suggesting motorists use Google Maps to find cheaper petrol, as fuel prices soar amid the ongoing war in Iran.
In an X post on Thursday, October 8, Burnham acknowledged the pressure on households, saying global events were driving up costs. He went on to promote a new feature allowing drivers to compare prices at nearby petrol stations, describing it as a practical way to save money.
Powered by the Government's Fuel Finder scheme, the initiative is expected to save motorists around £40 annually.
Sarcastic responses
The announcement drew sarcastic responses. "What's next? A weather app for pensioners who can't afford heating?" one user asked.
Another wrote: "Here was me thinking we needed cheaper fuel, but turns out all we needed was Google Maps to tell us exactly where we're getting robbed the least."
Some defended Burnham, with one commenting: "This sounds quite helpful tbf. He can't magic the price down."
Tax criticism
Several commenters, however, blamed government taxes.
One user said: "Are you taking the piss? You're charging 86p in tax on every litre of diesel, that's about £50 every time I fill up! You're clearly not cut out to be Prime Minister. Resign."
Unlike global oil prices, fuel taxation is within the government's control. At £2 per litre, fuel duty and VAT total approximately 86p, representing 43% of the price.
Government measures
The previous Starmer government extended a temporary 5p fuel duty cut until December 2026. In September, Burnham said that "every possible measure is being considered to ease driving costs".
He noted that this includes potentially halting the upcoming January fuel duty rise.
His Government officially removed the 5% VAT on household electricity bills, reducing it to 0%. Burnham funded this £850 million tax cut by cancelling the previous Government's £1.8 billion Digital ID programme.
