Fuel Duty To Rise By 2.3p Tomorrow - 31st Aug 2009 11:44am
Originally Posted by BBC News
A two pence rise in fuel duty will come into effect from midnight, the third increase in nine months. Stephen Glaister, director of road users pressure group RAC Foundation, told the BBC the government's latest rise "will hit everybody hard".
When VAT is included, the increase will actually total 2.3p. The average price of petrol across the UK is about 105p per litre.
The government says the extra duty is needed to help fund public investment.
AA president Edmund King said the timing of the rise was "pretty dire", at a time when the UK economy was trying to exit recession. Mr King said its members were already having to cut back on car journeys due to the high price of fuel, and that this would only increase following the latest rise, meaning the government's revenues will not actually rise.
The Petrol Retailers Association pointed out that the price of fuel would increase again when VAT increases from 15% to 17.5% at the end of the year.
When VAT is included, the increase will actually total 2.3p. The average price of petrol across the UK is about 105p per litre.
The government says the extra duty is needed to help fund public investment.
AA president Edmund King said the timing of the rise was "pretty dire", at a time when the UK economy was trying to exit recession. Mr King said its members were already having to cut back on car journeys due to the high price of fuel, and that this would only increase following the latest rise, meaning the government's revenues will not actually rise.
The Petrol Retailers Association pointed out that the price of fuel would increase again when VAT increases from 15% to 17.5% at the end of the year.
Absolutely out of order; as if people arnt struggling enough with the general cost of the recession, but also fuel prices are already sky-high, and the government are more than happy to throw on some more tax.
It's high time they followed the tories plans of lowering duty when the price of oil is high, and increasing it when the price of oil is low.
And yet more Labour bullshit in that once the rate of VAT is increased again at the end of 2009, guess what, fuel tax will also increase by a further 2.5%, as they have offset the cut in VAT in the price of fuel duty. Talk about stealth taxing!!
I wouldnt mind if the roads where any good, it would be worth paying the tax, but the endless potholes is just like throwing salt into the wound! The VAT increase will mean 4 fuel duty increases in 12 months. As Edmund King said, people will just have to continue cutting back on journeys, and it will generate little extra revenue, but may put companies out of work and cut-down peoples social commuting, at a time when people are already feeling generally crap due to the recession. Why must we motorists have to shoulder the cost of Gordon Browns stupidity and Labours general farcical running of our economy, landing the country in practical bankruptcy? Get Labour out before they fookin screw us over some more!!!
BBC News Report
takin the piss now. 
