UK's diesel is cheapest until tax
* Base diesel price is lowest in Europe * Government tax is highest, though * Result is highest-priced diesel...
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%
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