North Norfolk MP warns of record petrol price hikes for local drivers following military escalation in the Middle East

North Norfolk MP Steffan Aquarone warns that Middle East conflict and a planned fuel duty hike will hit rural drivers hard, calling for Chancellor intervention.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 4, 2026, 7:13 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Eastern Daily Press

Economic impact on rural commuters

The ongoing military conflict involving Iran is expected to have a severe and immediate impact on the cost of living for residents in North Norfolk. MP Steffan Aquarone stated on Wednesday that the anticipated surge in petrol prices will hit local drivers at a time when they can least afford it. In rural areas where public transport networks are often unreliable or non-existent, private vehicles serve as the primary mode of transport for essential activities. Aquarone emphasized that these price hikes will be "widely felt" across his constituency, affecting everything from family budgets to the operational costs of small local businesses.

Forecast for record high fuel costs

Market analysts and industry experts are predicting that the current regional instability will push UK petrol prices to record highs in the coming weeks. AA president Edmund King has warned that the logistical disruptions caused by the war will likely manifest at the pumps within 10 to 12 days. For Norfolk drivers, this timeline suggests a significant increase in the cost of a daily commute before the end of March. The prospect of record breaking prices adds a layer of economic uncertainty for students traveling to classes and patients attending critical healthcare appointments in the county.

Calls to scrap the fuel duty increase

In response to the global energy crisis, Aquarone has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to cancel a planned fuel duty increase set for this September. The proposed hike of 1p per liter would be the first such increase in 15 years, occurring at a moment when global crude prices are already under immense upward pressure. The MP warned that proceeding with the tax hike would create a "perfect storm" for motorists, compounding the effects of the war with domestic fiscal tightening. He argued that scrapping the increase is a necessary step to help local families maintain their quality of life.