Reid calls on Chancellor not to go ahead with 2p fuel duty increase due on 1 September

12.26.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 24th Aug 2009

Alan Reid, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll & Bute, has written to Chancellor Alistair Darling urging him not to go through with the planned 2 pence a litre fuel duty increase due on 1 September.

Mr Reid said,

“In his Budget speech the Chancellor hinted that, if oil prices rose, he would not go ahead with September’s 2 pence fuel duty increase. The price of a litre of unleaded petrol at the pumps has gone up by 10 pence a litre since the Budget.

“In view of this shocking price increase the Chancellor must cancel the increase in fuel duty. The high price of fuel is having a very serious impact on the economy, particularly in rural areas. I have written to the Chancellor urging him to cancel the planned increase.”

Notes:

According to AA surveys, the price of a litre of unleaded at the pumps was 95 pence in April and 104.9 pence yesterday (23 August).

In his Budget speech the Chancellor said, “I will continue to monitor oil prices, but I expect that fuel duty will increase by 2p per litre in September.”