Ray Holloway, director of the RMI Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) is urging the government to postpone the fuel duty increase scheduled for 1 October, or risk putting undue financial strain on motorists and petrol retailers alike.
The upcoming two-pence-per-litre increase was announced in March as part of the Budget, but deferred until the autumn. Duty has already increased twice in the last ten months, with increases that coincided with the Pre-Budget Report in December 2006, and with the Budget in March 2007.
According to Holloway, the scheduled increase should be deferred indefinitely as he reckons a third tax increase in ten months will squeeze the tiny margins that petrol retailers work under further still. What about our empty purses as well?
Did you know 65%r cent of the price at the pump is tax? That’s just outrageous and with oil prices rising, the Treasury will soon receive greater revenues than expected when the increase hits the price at the pump. So no guessing who will win this price war is there? The Chancellor will be making more money than ever.
So please Mr Chancellor, have a thought for us motorists and the smaller forecourt traders who need to stay in business. Bin this tax pretty please.
FemaleFirst - Jackie Violet