SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow, Bob Doris, has condemned Glasgow North East Labour MP, Willie Bain, who failed to vote in Monday’s debate in Westminster calling for action to tackle rising fuel prices.

A motion tabled by Welsh nationalists, Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party – which was backed by a coalition of motoring and industry organisations - was defeated by 303 to 14 votes. The SNP and Plaid Cymru had dedicated their annual Opposition Day debate to demand the Tory-led government fulfil its pre-election pledge to establish a fuel duty regulator.

Commenting, Bob Doris MSP said: “The people of Springburn were let down by London Labour and Willie Bain, who didn’t even bother to turn up and vote in last week’s important debate on fuel duty.

“As the price of oil heads once more over $100 per barrel, action is needed to help businesses and families who are struggling because of the price of petrol at the pumps.

“In Springburn alone, diesel is now £1.31 a litre and this is having a major impact on budgets, at what is clearly a challenging time for many family budgets.

“So often Labour tell us how they stand up for working class families and how different they are from the Tories.  However, when it came to this vital vote on fuel duty, where was Willie Bain for the ordinary working class families in Springburn? Why did he unite with the Tories and do nothing to tackle the rising costs of fuel?

Mr Doris continued: "If Westminster won't act then we need to equip the Scottish Parliament with the powers so that it can deliver instead. Fuel prices are a crucial issue for households and businesses, and will now become a central issue for the Holyrood elections in May.

“It’s a scandal that in Scotland – an oil rich country – we are paying the highest fuel prices in Europe.  It’s modern day highway robbery and Willie Bain should hang his head in shame.”