UK's diesel is cheapest until tax

* Base diesel price is lowest in Europe * Government tax is highest, though * Result is highest-priced diesel...

UK's diesel is cheapest  until tax

Britain's diesel is the cheapest in Europe until tax is added.

According to Government figures, the UK's diesel costs an average of 48.8p a litre before tax.

However, that leaps to an average 116.6p a litre once the Government's 58% tax has been added, making it the most expensive diesel in Europe.

Unleaded petrol prices are the third-lowest in Europe before tax but 62% tax, the third highest in Europe, means it is the fifth highest-priced.

The Conservative Party slammed the revelations. Shadow Treasury minister Philip Hammond said: 'Gordon Browns claim that world oil prices are the cause of the soaring costs is exposed as a sham.'

Diesel tax rates
UK 58%
Sweden 52%
Germany 51%
France 50%
Austria 48%
Denmark 48%
Ireland 48%