Rachel Reeves under fire over 'inevitable' U-turn - 'truly terrible'

 Rachel Reeves came under fire in the Commons today after Labour abandoned a planned fuel duty hike.

The Chancellor confirmed the U-turn in a statement to MPs on measures to ease cost-of-living pressures amid the Iran war.

But shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: "It was always obvious that the fuel duty increase would need to be cancelled. Obvious to everyone except the Chancellor. So can I ask, why did the Chancellor fight us on hell-bent for so long? Why has she been so hell bent on raising fuel duty during an energy crisis? Well, inevitably, the U-turn has finally come."

He added: "Once again we have a weak Government caving in to the inevitable after spending months defending a truly terrible decision."