Scottish National Party MSP Calum Kerr has called on Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey to slash VAT on fuel for petrol and diesel drivers, proposing a cut of 27p per litre to help rural communities. The demand comes as the Irish Government announced a temporary reduction in excise duty on fuel, cutting diesel by 32 cents (27p) per litre and petrol by 27 cents (23p) per litre.
SNP Calls for End to 'Attack on Rural Communities'
Calum Kerr, the SNP MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, urged the UK Government to follow Ireland's lead. He said: "Our farmers just want to get on with delivering food security and jobs in Scottish communities, but fuel costs are ramping up costs to unaffordable levels."
Kerr criticised the Labour Government for inaction, stating: "While the UK Labour Government sits on its hands, just a few miles across the Irish Sea we see an independent European nation taking decisive action to support their rural communities." He added that in "energy rich Scotland, filling up the tank shouldn't mean emptying the bank account, but while Scotland has the energy, Westminster sets the price."
Chancellor's Response on Fuel Duty
Chancellor John Healey was pushed this weekend on whether drivers and hauliers would be at the forefront of his mind when making a decision at the end of October. He told The Sun: "Yes, and just as we, as a government, have done for the last two years, we've already said there'll be no increase in fuel duty this year."
Healey acknowledged the ongoing pressure on fuel prices, saying: "I know the cost of fuel is still high. I'm very aware of the Middle East, as many people are, and the way that that's putting pressure on prices at the pumps, prices in the supermarket, just prices on stalls. So we take that into account."
Impact on Rural Communities
Kerr also criticised Prime Minister Burnham's "listening tour" for so far not venturing north of the border to Scotland. The SNP MSP's call for a 27p per litre cut on fuel duty aims to alleviate the financial burden on rural communities, where fuel costs are disproportionately high. The Irish Government's temporary excise duty reduction serves as a model for the UK, with the potential to significantly lower costs for drivers and farmers in rural areas.
