RISHI Sunak risked a fresh war with motorists this afternoon after he REFUSED to rule out keeping fuel duty frozen.
During a grilling by senior MPs in the Commons, the PM was asked whether he is committed to maintaining the popular 12 year freeze.
But Mr Sunak dismissed the question, saying the matter wasn't one for him.
He added it will be up to Jeremy Hunt to announce plans for the pump in the new year.
The PM also kept tight lipped about whether an additional 5p cut to fuel duty, due to expire in March, will be extended.
Mr Sunak vowed to make "absolutely no comments about future tax policy".
If fuel duty unfreezes for the first time in over a decade, the tax rate will go up by a staggering 12p.
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Just last month the Exchequer Secretary praised The Sun's Keep It Down campaign with Fair Fuel UK for championing drivers by calling to keep the 5p cut.
James Cartlidge said: "The Sun newspaper is an absolute champion of motorists in his constituency, hauliers and all those who rely on petrol and diesel vehicles”.
On March 15 the Chancellor will announce his highly anticipated Autumn Budget.
Brits will finally find out how much the price of beer, cigarettes and fuel are changing.
The Sun revealed yesterday that alcohol duty is set to be frozen until August in a major win for pubs and punters.
Hated alcohol levies were due to be hiked on February 1, but Mr Hunt will delay that move for an extra six months until August 1.
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Taxation of alcohol has been in chaos since September’s mini-Budget when short-lived Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a freeze on alcohol duty, only for Hunt to scrap it when he took over the Treasury in October.
Now he is due to announce he will delay the pain and set new duties on booze at next year’s Budget in a welcome U-turn.
The half year reprieve will be a major boost to the struggling hospitality industry, which has been hammered this winter by strikes and soaring costs.
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As the UK slides into recession, Mr Hunt will present the unvarnished state of the nation's precarious finances.
Workers will also be hoping to avoid another tax bombshell after Mr Hunt clobbered them with £25billion worth of hikes in November.
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