Labour and Liberals betrayal over fuel tax

Labour and Liberal MPs tonight betrayed their constituents after SNP proposals for the introduction of a Fuel Duty Regulator, to provide relief for motorists and industry from soaring fuel prices, were defeated.

Stewart Hosie MP, the SNP's Treasury spokesperson said:

“Scottish Labour and Liberal MPs have essentially voted for fuel prices to continue careering out of control, and I think they will have a lot of explaining to do when they go back to their constituencies.

“You would have to live on another planet not to realise the urgency and strength of feeling at soaring fuel prices, and I am bitterly disappointed that this opportunity for action has been thrown away.

“In the last year the cost of filling up the family car has gone up by as much as £30 a month, while some estimates show hauliers are paying as much as £37,000 a year to tank up a truck.

“It is not an exaggeration to say that businesses are on the brink of going bust now, waiting for the Treasury to take action later will be a case of too little, too late.

“Indeed, whilst the Treasury rakes in an additional £6 billion in revenue from rising prices, Scotland’s hard-pressed motorists and key industries face real pain at the pumps.

“It is scandalous that in oil rich Scotland key sectors are struggling to fill their tanks, and a Fuel Duty Regulator would have made an enormous difference.”

The SNP/Plaid Cymru amendment to the Finance Bill had secured cross industry backing from the Road Haulage Association (RHA), National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS), Scottish Taxi Federation (STF), Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), and Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).