Demonstrators gather in Whitehall for Reform-organised 'national rally'

A Reform UK-organised protest against a planned fuel duty rise has taken place in Westminster.

The party’s deputy leader Richard Tice and London mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham were among those at the demonstration on Monday morning.

Fuel duty has been frozen since 2011, and was cut by 5p in 2022 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

But in her budget last year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the 5p cut would be unwound between September 2026 and March 2027.

The “national fuel tax protest” will urge the Chancellor to walk back the plans amid the surge in fuel prices caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Follow the latest updates below...

Cunningham: 'Khan has created a two-tier London'
The Standard also spoke to Laila Cunningham, Reform’s candidate for the 2028 London mayoral election.

She said: “We want to end the war on motorists because I think you should not be taxed, watched, monitored, punished every time you go about your day.

“Fuel prices are up and people are really earning a lot less.

Wages have been stagnant since 2008.

Help people out and halve VAT on fuel duty as an emergency.

“People want more money in their pocket.

They don't want to be taxed every time they have to get into their car.

“My mum's elderly, she loves the independence of driving a car.

She's not going to get on a bike.

She’s not going to take the tube that's on strike every 3 months.

“Parents who drop their kids off, carers, workers, people who have to drive into London.

I don't want to punish them every time they get into their car, they're punished enough.

Asked about Sadiq Khan, Cunningham said: “He's created a two-tier London, those that can afford to drive and those that can't, and I want a London that's open for everyone.”
The Reform UK bus has gone, and the Reform politicians and protesters are leaving too.

We will continue to bring you lines from Reform politicians on site now the event has ended.

The Standard estimates there have been about 50 people at the site of the protest, including members of the press, and there isn’t a tractor in sight.

Dubbed the "National Fuel Tax Protest", there had been an expectation that the Houses of Parliament would be swarmed by a legion of farmers on tractors, lorry drivers and tradesmen in vans this morning, but that hasn’t come to pass.

Tice: 'War on motorists is a war on growth'
Richard Tice has spoken to The Standard, and has called Rachel Reeves to have an emergency cut on VAT by 50% for 3 months.

Tice said: “That will help alarm clock Britain, it'll help growth in the economy, and also to give confidence by scrapping the fuel duty increase plan for September.

“We've got no growth in this economy, too much tax, too much wasteful government spending, too many daft regulations.”
Tice added: “Having a war on motorists is a war on growth.

It's a war against prosperity, and that's what we're seeing.

That's why so many people are leaving London.

Asked about the upcoming elections, Tice said: “We're hoping the more people who vote Reform, the quicker we get Starmer out.

That's the key message.”
'State of the nation has turned me to Reform'
Anna Hills, Reform UK candidate in the London elections for Coulsdon ward in Croydon, was a Tory but has turned to Reform UK because “we need change.”
She said “the state of the nation today has turned me to Reform UK” after 45 years of voting for the Conservatives.

“I’m fed up with the war on motorists, ULEZ, 20mph zones, and LTNs,” she said.

Looking forward to the London elections, she said she plans to tackle LTNs in Croydon and illegal immigration.

Pochin: 'Stop the war on motorists'
The Standard have spoken to Reform MP Sarah Pochin regarding today’s protest.

Pochin said: “Reform are here today because we want to stop the war on motorists currently raging up and down the country.

“Rachel Reeves is taking in an additional £22 million a day because of duty at the petrol stations on the forecourts.

We say that money should be given back to the motorists.

“She should be cutting VAT on fuel tax at the moment like so many governments are around Europe, and that's exactly what Reform will do.”
When asked about the forthcoming local elections, Pochin added: “We hope to do very well in the local elections.

There's a surge across the country of support for Reform, and the situation at the petrol pumps is just one example of why people are looking for an alternative to this Labour government.”
Reform supporter: 'Labour are aassassinating the UK'
Kate from Shirley has supported Reform UK since Labour got in and started “assassinating the UK”.

“No to digital ID, support the farmers, and stop the war on motorists,” she said.

She explained that she has been forced to get rid of her car because of rising costs of fuel, though she agrees there’s an argument to be had about motorists in London.

Reform UK have now arrived on site, with Deputy leader Richard Tice arriving in a Reform branded taxi which he proudly says is “Non-Ulez compliant”.

Tice, Laila Cunningham, Robert Jenrick and Sarah Pochin can be seen posing in front of and on the top deck of a Reform UK branded bus.

Reform activist: 'We need to look after British people'
Joseph Afrane was a former activist for Labour, turned Reform UK.

He joined Reform UK two years ago, wanting “change”.

He said: “We need government to listen to the people.

“Those who aren’t contributing should not be given free money.

We need to look after the British people.

The real British people are struggling.”
The Standard are currently at the scene of the planned protest - and there’s not much to see just yet.

The Met have said the protest will start at 10am, but there is currently not a tractor in sight.

Outside the Red Lion pub, where the protesters are due to meet, there are more press than people coming to protest.