SNP MSP for Glasgow Anne McLaughlin is today challenging Alistair Darling to act in the interests of ordinary people and freeze fuel duty.

With less than 24 hours to go until the Chancellor announces his budget, Anne McLaughlin is calling on Alistair Darling to put the interests of the people first and prove he's not totally out of touch with the public.

Commenting today, Ms McLaughlin said: "Fuel prices are having a dreadful impact on people and the Chancellor simply cannot sit on his hands and do nothing.

"As people across Glasgow struggle to deal with a recession that Alistair Darling has played a big part in creating, it's only right that he makes it easier for them at the pumps.

"According to the AA we've seen VAT on a tank of petrol in this country go up by 11.46% since November 2008. Whilst in other countries like France, Germany and the Netherlands the increases have been 5.07%.

"Gordon Brown keeps telling us that Britain is best placed to lead the way out of recession. I'm afraid these figures paint an entirely different picture.

"So if Alistair Darling really wants to have a fairer future for all, he can use what may well be his last budget to announce a freeze on fuel duty".