A petition demanding Government action on spiralling fuel costs has received the 100,000 signatures needed to trigger a Commons debate.
The online petition, calling for planned fuel duty increases to be scrapped and for a mechanism to stabilise prices at the pumps, passed the threshold on Friday evening.
It is only the third to receive 100,000 signatures on the Government's e-petitions website since it was set up to give the public a more direct influence on Westminster.
The first, signed now by more than 247,000 people, called for rioters and looters involved in last month's widespread disturbances to lose their benefits.
The other, signed by more than 139,000, demanded the release of Cabinet papers about the 1989 Hillsborough disaster which killed 96 Liverpool FC fans.
Tory MP Robert Halfon, who backed the fuel duty petition, said the number of signatures gained since it was set up in July was an indication of the strength of feeling surrounding the issue. "Cutting fuel duty now must be a priority for the Chancellor, over and above the clamour to cut taxes for millionaires," he said. "Rip-off petrol and diesel prices are now so high they are a poverty trap, keeping people on benefits as job-seekers can't afford to travel. Many businesses are struggling to stay afloat. And to those do-gooders who say we shouldn't be using cars, I say 'get in the real world'." He said he would be urging the Government to set up a Royal Commission on the issue and put more pressure on oil companies to lower prices.
Peter Carroll, organiser of the FairFuelUK campaign said: "The public have spoken loud and clear. They see the price of petrol and diesel as right at the top of their agenda. People are looking to the politicians to understand that a cut in fuel duty would stimulate growth and have the added benefit of reducing inflation."
twitter
facebook
linkedin
ADD YOUR OWN COMMENTS BELOW THIS POST. THEY ARE VERY WELCOME
[ posted by Wayne Knowles, October 05, 2011 8:48 ]
The fuel stabiliser definitely needs discussion. However, it should also reflect a drop in crude oil prices as distributors do in the US. On 9th Sept Brent crude was $115/barrel and it has steadily decreased to around $102/barrel on 2nd October. That's approx a 5p/litre reduction and guess what? No change in price at the pump, it is scandalous. I appreciate that there are associated costs of refining, tansportation etc but these should come from the Oil companies profit margin not our pockets.
[ posted by a.evetts, October 07, 2011 16:50 ]
Small business people are affected the most having to pass on fuel price rises to the customer straight away or profit is cut drasticly
[ posted by E.Ackland, October 10, 2011 14:22 ]
Although I'm too young to drive, I know how much my mum pays for petrol...I think it should be lowered YEEEEAAAAAHHH!!!! YEE HARRRR
[ posted by a kilner, October 10, 2011 14:31 ]
i am too young to drive but i know that my mum has to pay 40 pounds a week on petrol it is like 19.9 per litre and i pay much attention to how much she pays, the petrol should be drasticley lowerd to a low price and i know car fumes causes pullition but even though my mum works constantly and i am just look out for those people who waste money on petrol. plz lower the prices
[ posted by martyn, October 30, 2011 23:22 ]
The amount of tax on fuel is staggering compared to other countries no matter how the goverment waffle it we pay the most, even worse is the amount the fuel companies are making in one day.
This is pure greed on behalf of the goverment and fuel companies as they know damn well fuel is a necessitie regardless of price.
Something else which is blatant ripoff is the price of fuel on motorway services, how do they justify £1.43 a litre at texaco ? is the fuel special or something.
[ posted by theresa may, November 15, 2011 6:07 ]
i worked as a carer for 19yrs and have had to give up because it cost me most of my wages to fill up my car
[ posted by penny wilson, November 15, 2011 7:58 ]
it means my journeys have to be cut back because i am pensioner.
would help if the tax was lowered.
[ posted by Jayne Brierley, November 15, 2011 8:50 ]
I find each week that I have to cut down on food quality to compensate for the higher fuel prices.
[ posted by mrs bridget kennard, November 15, 2011 9:10 ]
the government has always penalised the motorist, but very little of the tax goes to keep our roads up to standard
[ posted by Pat Gear, November 15, 2011 9:23 ]
Great if you are a lucky city dweller with excellent public transport options, people who live in the countryside are totally dependent on their cars, because country bus services have been cut to just a few a day! Increased petrol prices will mean people trapped in their homes. Keep petrol affordable, it is a necessity, not a luxury for many people.
[ posted by Stede, November 15, 2011 11:40 ]
I am disabled and not intitled to the motorbility so I have to pay car tax and insurance for my car, I have disabled badges and still get no help
[ posted by lee, March 01, 2012 12:02 ]
fuel prices need to go back down this is an absolute joke 138.9 a litre think its time to go down or loads of people are gonna start doin petrol runs
[ posted by Mrs A. Caunce, March 07, 2012 7:11 ]
I live in the countryside and there is no public transport and would be unable to run my buisness and get food for my animals without transport.I have no choise but to use my car, if i did not have one i would not live here. A. Caunce
[ posted by John Drake, November 11, 2012 13:07 ]
We are not all in it together regarding motoring. There are many who can well afford an increase in fuel duty and still drive gas-guzzling cars. There are those on low wages and pensioners who cannot afford an increase, but require a car to get around, the bus services being continually reduced, especially in rurual areas. Perhaps we could replace the bus pass with a fuel discount card .
[ posted by johnny walker, December 18, 2012 10:18 ]
IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH WE HOWL NOTHING WILL BE DONE THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS OF MAKING IT HAPPEN THE FIRST IS GREEDY MPS IF THEY TRULY WISH TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE THEY SHOULD HAVE NO WAGE ONLY EXSPENSES PLUS THE THE KUDOS AND WARM FEELING OF HELPING US THE OTHER IS TO BLOCK THE M25 FOR 2 DAYS THE EFFECTS WOULD BE FELT AT WESTMINISTER AND EVEN ON THE MAKE ON THE TAKE GREEDY MPS WOULD TAKE NOTICE
[ posted by Maurice Braines, May 15, 2013 8:39 ]
Whatever anything can be done to regulate the fuel price, should be done. What I hate is when I am paying a price at Tesco garage and opposite is a Sainsburys garage charging less. So....Tesco relying on the fact that you have a club card (because of the x 4 factor sometimes for restaurants/breaks)
[ posted by Bernard, May 15, 2013 9:12 ]
As a result of the recent allegation of fuel price fixing. If this turns out to be true then the Government will need to do something effective about it. By effective I mean reduce the cost of fuel. If that does not happen then I will remember this at the General election when I decide who to vote for. To ensure that I remember it I have put a general note in the e calendar to remind me.