At the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Sunday 25th September, I set out the calls from FairFuelUK for a significant cut in Fuel Duty.

I explained how cutting fuel duty would boost the economy, save jobs, ease inflation and give the whole country a morale boosting lift. The event took place against the background of the number of signatures on the FairFuelUK petition on the new Government eSite reaching 95,000, only 5,000 short of the total required to trigger a full Parliamentary debate on the issue.

Campaign Manager Peter Carroll said, ‘There are rumours that the Government is trying to identify ways of stimulating the economy without compromising its deficit reduction strategy. One answer is to cut fuel duty. Recent figures released by the Treasury have shown that Fuel Duty is so high that the treasury has actually collected less money from it, as people and businesses have just not been able to afford it. Therefore, a Fuel Duty cut could actually INCREASE tax revenues, increase growth and lower inflation. The huge support for our campaign and the online ePetition on the Government site – http://bit.ly/FFUK-Gov - show that the people can see this. There is a sense of frustration that the politicians appear not to be looking at this as an option. That’s why it’s vital that we reach 100,000 on the ePetition and secure the Parliamentary debate as soon as possible’.

The debate addressed the impact of high petrol and diesel costs on the economy and on people’s lives. Some argued for a VAT reduction, but business representatives explained that the business economy, particularly the hard pressed road freight industry, need Fuel Duty cut. It is this that will drive the economy forward for everyone including the Government.

PHOTO: On the panel at the Labour Party Conference with Quentin, Chaired by James Hookham from the FTA, was from left to right, Cllr Malcolm Kennedy from Liverpool City council, Graham Stringer MP, and Rhian Davies from the ACT