The high cost of fuel risks creating another lockdown as people stay at home to save money. Prices at the pump have soared in recent weeks and motorists have faced diesel at more than £2 a litre.
Conservative MP Robert Halfon said at Transport Questions today “we’re heading to a de facto lockdown” because of the high cost of fuel. The MP for Harlow said: “In Ireland it’s a very happy St Patrick’s day because they’ve cut fuel duty over the past week.
“I thank my right honourable friend for what the Government has done on the fuel duty freeze, but the fact is motorists are paying £1.60-plus for their petrol and their diesel.
“We’re heading to a de facto lockdown where parents can’t afford to take their kids to school, where workers can’t afford to commute by car and have to stay at home.”
He asked if the Transport Secretary would “make appeals to the Treasury to cut fuel duty in the spending round next week”.
Grant Shapps said: “After 12 years of fuel (duty) freeze, the average family has saved something like £2,000 as a direct result of his excellent campaigning.
“I will have further conversations, of course, with my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but it will be for him to decide on the next measures.”
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