Time for action on fuel prices

SNP Candidate for Glasgow East Cllr John Mason was today (Thursday) joined by Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Depute Leader of the SNP and Deputy First Minister, on a visit to the New Easterhouse Credit Union as they showed the SNP are on the side of households facing rising food and fuel prices at a time when the UK Government is raking in £6 billion in additional revenues from rising energy prices.

The SNP is campaigning for lower fuel duty to help bring prices down – a move Labour rejected in the House of Commons only last week.  A win for the SNP in Glasgow East will send a message to Gordon Brown that fuel duty must come down and that Scotland must get a fair share of the Chancellor's revenue windfall.

A report from the Scottish Retail Consortium today shows that food prices in Scottish shops have risen by 7% in the past 12 months, more than twice the rate of headline inflation.

Speaking at the New Easterhouse Credit Union, SNP Candidate Cllr John Mason said:

"Balancing household budgets is getting harder every day as energy prices continue to rise at the pumps and in the home.  Food prices in Scottish shops have risen by more than twice the rate of headline inflation and the knock on effect only makes budgets tighter for many people.

"While people in Glasgow East are tightening their belts and feeling the pinch, the UK Government has made over £6 billion in extra tax thanks to the rising price of oil.

"The SNP wants to see some of that £6 billion come back to Scotland to help ease the burden and to invest in the East End.  Scotland's share of Gordon Brown's oil windfall would be £48 per household per week – that's money the SNP thinks is better off in Scotland, and I'm sure people in Glasgow East feel the same.

SNP Depute Leader and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

"With the credit crunch on everyone's lips and public concern about the economy on the increase, credit unions offer essential support and a secure way of saving for many people managing the family budget.

"The SNP Government is on the side of people in Glasgow East and across Scotland.  The SNP has already taken steps to put more money back in your pocket by freezing the council tax and starting work on scrapping it completely. We have reduced prescription charges and are on the way to making prescriptions free again and with business rates cut for many small businesses, we are offering a helping hand through tough times.

"In contrast this out of touch Labour Government increased the tax rate from 10pence to 20pence placing more stress on already stretched budgets and has sat back and watched as rising oil prices hit our homes and our businesses.

"Day after day voters are speaking out about the rising costs of fuel. The SNP wants to see action on rising prices and by sending another SNP MP to Westminster, people in Glasgow East can pressure Gordon Brown's government to cancel the rise in fuel duty, to introduce fair taxation on fuel and to send some of that £6 billion back to Glasgow."

ENDS

1.      A report by UK Oil and Gas released yesterday (Wednesday 9th) showed the Treasury windfall from rising energy prices to be £6 billion this year.

2.      Information on the New Easterhouse Credit Union can be found here.