Glasgow Labour MPs ally with tories against cheaper fuel

Only the SNP's MPs from all Scotland's MPs voted in favour of a proposal for the introduction of a Fuel Duty Regulator last night in the House of Commons whilst Glasgow Labour MPs voted against the move. Such a regulator would have provided relief for low income motorists in the East End of Glasgow from soaring fuel prices.

Commenting on the vote Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris said: "Over half the people in the East End travelling to work use their car and have been let down by Labour as the cost of motoring is already proportionately high for them.
 

"The only MPs from Scotland who were on their side were MPs from the SNP. Glasgow's Labour MPs voted against the means to provide those motorists with some relief from sky high fuel taxes.

"Yet again we have another example of the Labour party taking the people of the East End for granted and neglecting them.

"Labour voted for fuel prices to continue careering out of control, and I think they will have a lot of explaining to do to the people of Glasgow East.

"It is scandalous that in oil rich Scotland families in Glasgow East are facing amongst the highest fuel prices in the world. A Fuel Duty Regulator would have made an enormous difference to them.

"In the last year the cost of filling up the family car has gone up by as much as £30 a month. Whilst the Treasury rakes in an additional £6 billion in revenue from rising prices, Glasgow East'ss hard-pressed motorists face real pain at the pumps."

Notes:

1. The three Glasgow Labour MPs who voted against the fuel duty regulator were Tom Harris (Glasgow South), John Robertson (Glasgow North West) and Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West). Mohammed Sarwar (Glasgow Central) and Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) were absent from the voting record.

2. Car ownership in the five wards comprising Glasgow East is 41.8%. Of those who travel to work 52.9% use the car.

3. Labour MP Stephen Ladyman, a former Transport Minister recently called for a fuel duty regulator saying "Let's start of stitching our deal with the motoring public by scrapping the fuel duty escalator and replacing it with a duty moderator that recognises when the price of fuel goes up the exchequer VAT take increases and the rate of fuel duty moderator goes down."

4) Fuel Duty Regulator – how it works:

The regulator mechanism would guarantee a double protection for motorists and the road haulage industry.

Firstly, higher oil prices would trigger an automatic freeze in fuel duty rates.  Second, any extra cash raised from VAT on petrol or diesel as a result of the higher pump prices would go back into an equivalent cut in fuel duty. This makes obvious sense particularly with oil prices reaching record highs.

With taxes currently make up over 60% of the price of petrol and diesel and the regulator would result in an automatic freeze on fuel duty increases and a reduction in duty to match any increases in VAT.