Thank you to those who wrote to me about rocketing car insurance costs.

I absolutely share your concern about exorbitant car insurance costs for young drivers. It’s shocking that in January this year the average 17-20-year-old will have seen their insurance premium rise by more than £1,000 from the same time last year, an increase of 58%. That’s the last thing young people and their parents need at a time of such intense cost-of-living pressures.

Labour is committed to a crackdown on unfair hidden fees that are driving up insurance premiums, including taking action on additional set-up fees and unfair postcode pricing. And we have also pledged to set up a new watchdog to drive down fuel prices, and to remove planning barriers that are blocking important road repairs and upgrades from taking place.

Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, estimates the changes we’re proposing could save drivers up to £685 per year. That’s the kind of bold action we need to insure that drivers are getting the best possible deal during such difficult economic times. So please know that I will continue to champion action to support drivers through the cost-of-living crisis.