Is The Government Set To Hold Back Fuel Duty Hike?

Tuesday, 1. March 2011

As fuel prices continue to rise the Government is under continual pressure to shelve the fuel duty hike. In April the duty will rise from its current 59pence per litre by inflation plus 1p, estimated at 3 to 4 pence per litre. Diesel is already at an all time high and still rising without the duty hike, causing the AA, RAC, Auto Express, RMIF and others to call on the Government to put the brakes on. The RAC pointed out that there have been 8 tax rises applied to petrol over the last 2 years making the proposed April rise the 9^th tax rise. Last year the Government took £28 billion in fuel duty – more than the tax on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling combined. And yet the Coalition Government promised not to pick on motorists. Adrian Tink of the RAC pointed out that this is a ‘Vicious Circle’ as the more fuel increases the higher inflation rises adding more to fuel duty. Chancellor Osborne has started to make noises that may suggest that he is re-considering the Government position suggesting in a radio interview ‘We can override it.’ Well bloody get on with it then and scrap it! Any views you would like to share? By Graham Hill