Despite the industry’s pleas the chancellor did not deliver the much-needed cut in fuel duty in today’s Budget, a move that has been met with criticism.
Among those disappointed with George Osborne’s confirmation that fuel duty would indeed be frozen rather than cut were FairFuelUK and its backers, who include the RHA and FTA, as well as a long list of MPs that have all supported its push for a 3ppl cut.
Last week, FFUK took to 10 Downing Street with a letter calling for a cut along with six MPs, including PetrolPromise founder Robert Halfon and All Party Parliamentary Group on Freight Transport chairman Rob Flello.
The group hoped to convince the chancellor that Britain needed a cut in fuel duty today, rather than the freeze revealed in the last Autumn Statement. Instead, Britain got a cut in beer duty over a cut in the price of fuel that the transport industry urgently needs to keep trucks continue to move freight around the country.
However, FFUK will not be giving up on its fight. During the chancellor’s Budget speech, it tweeted that the campaign will still continue in an attempt to convince the Treasury that “cutting duty will help the growth of the UK”.
It also said on Twitter that it would be highlighting the size of UK fuel duty in the run-up to the EU elections in May, particularly as diesel is subsidised in the EU.
At least the industry knows that duty will not rise until the next general election, as promised in Osborne's Autumn Statement last year.