24 Nov Campaigner sounds alarm on ‘absolutely disgusting’ stealth fuel price hike
FAIR Fuel campaigner Howard Cox has slammed Jeremy Hunt as “absolutely disgusting” for failing to mention a planned 15p fuel duty hike in his budget speech.
He told GB News: “Jeremy Hunt didn’t say a word, which is the first time in 30 years of my campaigning, I’ve not seen a budget or autumn statement, not mentioning fuel duty.
“Then, about only half an hour later, in a press conference, the OBR, the Office of Budget Responsibility, announced this and the operative word is a planned 12p tax rise next year in the March budget.
“And don’t forget, that doesn’t include the VAT, the VAT goes on there on top of that, and so it’s near a 15 pence per litre [more] we’re going to be paying for. It’s absolutely disgusting that Jeremy Hunt didn’t mention this.”
In an interview during Breakfast on GB News, he said he has been approached by three political parties to become an MP.
“One of them is a biggie and a one nation Tory, so that doesn’t give much away about that. But the other two are relatively new parties,” he said.
“I don’t know, I’m 68 years of age now and, and fundamentally my wife is not happy with what I do at the moment, spending 70 hours a week fighting for drivers. But I must admit, I’m getting so angry about this.
“So, we want to get some sanity into Parliament. And it’s about time someone listened, and maybe I can actually help in that process.”
He added: “I’m backed by the Road Haulage Association and something like 40% to 50% of the costs now for an average trucking firm and an average white van man now are fuel costs and what’s going to happen is they’re going to pass those costs on to their customers.
“But unfortunately, the customers are going to say ‘no, we can’t pay that’ and we’re going to see some businesses, some logistics businesses and some distribution businesses going to the wall.
“Sole traders particularly, like electricians and plumbers and decorators, [have] already been hit by things like congestion charges and ultra low emission zones and all those sorts of things.
“Is there a war of motorists? Yes, there is. It’s ridiculous.
“There are 37 million drivers in this country. They don’t have any consumer price protection. They’re subject to the highest fuel duty in the world, highest taxation in the world, and also opportunistic profiteering and the fuel supply chain.”
Mr Cox said: “It’s a very short-term thinking policy. I think every common-sense person on this planet would recognise if you cut the duty significantly, what you’re going to see is inflation coming down and a lessening of the cost of living crisis.
“I’ll give you some more figures – Germany is 20p cheaper, France is 25p cheaper for diesel, and Spain 30p cheaper for the diesel.
“Why is it always the UK that is the highest and hitting motorists the hardest?
“We are just treated as cash cows and we’re damaging the economy.”
He told GB News: “Our government is myopic. They are the only economically illiterate when it comes to the impact of the cost of distribution and logistics.
“And for drivers themselves, we’re looking at people that can’t afford even to get to hospitals at the moment and they’re actually making their hospital appointments for chemotherapy, or radiotherapy every two or three weeks rather than every week.
“It is suffering everywhere. People aren’t going to cinemas or theatres or the high street so the whole economy is suffering because of the high cost of fuel.”
