MPs led by Priti Patel hand 121,000-signature petition in to Downing Street urging Jeremy Hunt to freeze or CUT fuel duty in next week’s Budget to avoid business ‘Armageddon’
Jeremy Hunt faced pressure to avoid increasing fuel taxes today as he was handed a 121,000-name petition from desperate drivers.
Priti Patel led a group of Tory and DUP MPs who handed the document to the Chancellor a week ahead of his Budget.
They want him to rule out a possible increase in duty on petrol and diesel that could see already-struggling businesses go to the wall.
Mr Hunt is under pressure to deliver tax cuts, although he is expected to act to keep the fuel levy unchanged on March 15.
Howard Cox, who runs campaign group FairFuelUK, said: ‘It would be political and economic Armageddon if the Chancellor goes against his growing number of back benchers’ wishes to at least freeze duty.’
Priti Patel led a group of Tory and DUP MPs who handed the document to the Chancellor a week ahead of his Budget.
They want him to rule out a possible increase in duty on petrol and diesel that could see already-struggling businesses go to the wall.
A further 40 MPs attended a reception organised by the organisation today in parliament.
Drivers face having to collectively pay out an extra £3billion at the pumps over the next year if Mr Hunt reverses a 5p fuel duty cut.
The reduction was introduced in March last year by then-chancellor Rishi Sunak as drivers faced record prices at the pumps due to soaring oil prices, sparked by the war in Ukraine.
But average pump prices have since tumbled below what they were last March, fuelling fears he will reverse the 5p cut.
Motoring campaigners are urging him to extend it for another year to help those struggling to make ends meet.
Reversing the 5p cut could add more than £80 to a family’s annual fuel bill.
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