FFUK: make diesel cheaper than petrol

FairFuelUK (FFUK) has appealed for the price of diesel to be brought below that of petrol to help drive growth for UK hauliers.

The group set out its position in its 2015 General Election manifesto, which is due to be launched at Parliament today (22 October).

The manifesto reiterated previous calls by FFUK for the government to cut fuel duty by 3ppl, as well as maintaining a fuel duty freeze beyond the current parliament.

FFUK’s manifesto also set out requests for all pump prices to come down in line with the EU average, and for diesel prices in particular to be brought lower than petrol to help hauliers, which the campaign believes will have a “colossal” impact on the economy.

FFUK co-founder Howard Cox said: “Time is up for the Treasury to stop fleecing 70% of the electorate from punitively taxing an essential – no choice but to use – resource. Instead of taking more than 60% every time we fill up at the pumps, they should be motivating the economy by cutting this taxation.”

Cox told Commercialmotor.com that the apparent lack of interest from MPs at the three major party conferences this autumn was “very disrespectful” . He said fringe meetings held at each of the conferences only attracted the interest of two MPs – Andrew Bingham, Conservative MP for High Peak; and Tessa Munt, Liberal Democrat MP for Wells. No MPs attended a similar event at the Labour Party conference (CM 2 October).

“Our lead campaigner Quentin Willson and myself are livid,” Cox said. “It’s playing into [FFUK’s] hands.”

At the launch event FFUK is also due to present to MPs the results of independent research into the views of more than 2,000 people on fuel duty issues, 64% of whom agree that diesel should be priced below petrol.