The government is said to be seriously considering raising fuel duty after it being frozen for eight years and saving drivers over 13% on everyday costs. Along with this, it is thought that they will also increase the duty on alcohol to raise help raise upwards of £20 billion for the NHS and other health services.
If the move was to be actioned in the Autumn budget, then it would mean the government could raise over £800 million based on current estimates within the first 12 months.
However, its predicted that the government may have lost out on over £46 billion from freezing fuel duty since 2010, and this slight increase does not look like it will go far in chopping away the deficit.
Fuel duty
Fuel duty has been a contentious subject for all parties since the then Conservatives introduced the fuel escalator in 1993, this increased fuel duty in line with inflation, which saw the tax surge by 75% just five years after it was introduced. Once scrapped in 1999, many said it was too late and the damage had already been done.
This brought forward the need for reform. In 2010 it was frozen at 57.95 pence per litre, at the time in an effort to reduce the stress on households across the country, but with the deficit not getting any smaller, the government are now acting towards changes which could give them a much-needed boost within the budget.
Causing a stir
Ministers and public bodies on both sides of the argument have been raising the heat since this report was released. While some backbench MPs are strongly against the rise, some MPs suggest that a small increase in fuel and alcohol duty would be less disagreeable to the general public than increasing income tax, which has not changed since the 70’s.
Insiders from the government didn’t confirm a specific increase, but the general gist of the message was a positive affirmation of the change. A Whitehall source told The Times: “The PM has been clear, our commitment on the NHS goes above and beyond anything that’s come before and we will all need to contribute a bit more in a fair and balanced way.”
Britain’s fuel is already one of the most expensive in the world, and this rise would help to cement our place at the top. We’ve mentioned before that some families are having to choose between food or fuel and this rise will not help, no matter the increase.
On the other hand, environmental campaigners would encourage a rise as it means people are less likely to use their cars and therefore reduce emissions. A report by Greener Journeys last month recommended increasing fuel duty by as 8 pence per litre, but this, however, is most unlikely to happen.
Carl Emmerson, deputy director of the IFS, said: “If they don’t [lift the freeze], the deficit hole will get even bigger. The challenge of finding the money for the NHS, keeping the public finances on the track the chancellor might want, would all be harder if you continued freezing it. I presume that the Treasury is finding it difficult to say we can just squeeze spending . . . That leaves them the option of either ditching the deficit target and borrowing more, or going for some tax rises.”
Any increase will not be unexpected, as fuel duty has been frozen for a long period of time. The government has already pledged to put fuel duty in line with the retail price index for 2019/20, but this change would bring it in a year earlier and potentially increase it earlier than initially anticipated.
What can you do?
Until the government confirms its changes and releases the cost increase, you can do a few things to share your opinion on the changes to fuel duty.
- Write to your MP – share your views and what you think about the subject, would you support or oppose a change and what change would you like to see? Ask what their opinion is and see what they say in return to your letter.
- If you are strongly against such a change, then have a look at FairFuelUK. They describe themselves as “The real independent and not for profit voice of 37m UK drivers” and work to lobby government on better ways to tax road usage for fairer driving laws. You can sign up to support their petitions, and they will automatically add your name to anything they take to parliament etc.
- Use the PetrolPrices app to find the cheapest fuel near you as you can save over £200 a year on fuel by using our service.
What would an increase in fuel tax mean for you? Do you think an increase to help the NHS is fair? Let us know below
What has happened to the money we are going to save from brexit, to support the NHS. Penalising the road user is not an option. The driver is always the first to be hit.
I’m sorry to have to tell you but I think that tag line on the side of the bus was an example of “bait and switch”. Effectively they sold people an idea.
Oh poor motorist! Always the first to be hit 🙁 You’ll find that if they tackle VAT or income tax instead, everyone will be hit – and that includes the poorest. Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe that people who can afford a car can afford the petrol price rise, and that people who can’t afford a car, can’t afford a VAT or income tax rise. I just read the results of a poll I participated in for my City Council: it says that 41% of car owners use their car daily for 1 to 5 miles! So why don’t you start walking, cycling, using the public transport and stop feeling sorry for yourself? (PS: I love cars – there are 2 cars in my household because we are a large family with both adults working full time; doesn’t prevent us from using the cars reasonably: I commute my 15 miles through a choice or a combination of bike and train.)
Also I can’t believe there are people who still believe that we are going to make any kind of savings from Brexit in the short, or even the medium term! 2 years into it and it’s about time to wake up…
Your wrong, I am disabled and have a car we are among the poorest and MOST persecuted sector in this country, so no I cannot afford a rise, I live in a small village with no bus service so the bus is out of the question, for obvious reasons so are walking and riding bikes. Before you say I can move forget it I would like to but cannot afford the expense of moving, as for your comment vat and income tax will hit the poorest wrong, vat will yes BUT income tax no they don’t earn enough to pay it. Now let’s get one thing right THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY TAX INCREASE, if you know anything about money you will know this is a sovereign money issuing country, therefore spending comes first, taxation comes afterwards, the UK can pay for anything in it’s own currency without taxing first. That’s what makes austerity a complete neoliberal scam.
I asked to be corrected if I was wrong, you did and I am thankful for that; indeed the poorest of the active population won’t pay income tax. VAT does apply to everyone though. I am sorry about your situation as a disabled person who has no other choice than use the car for mobility. I would hope though that there are not enough citizens in your specific situation to make any significant impact in the revenue from the increase of petrol tax; so the government should at the same time come up with compensating solutions for disabled and isolated people to be able to acquire an electric car at a reasonable cost since it is the individual transport of choice for the future.
Wrong.. the government should tax the super rich more and leave everybody on the breadline alone.
I think you will find the rich already contribute a larger proportion of tax than the poorer citizens.
What super rich? They have the sense to be domicile in countries where the tax is low or non existent. I would do the same if it was worth my while. Stop subsidising people who come to this country to use our services, usually free, also stop subsidising countries who don’t need it and who are often anti British anyway.
I can’t be that wrong since I don’t disagree with you 🙂 But that’s the ideal world of some people, and I don’t think we’ll ever get there!
Agree with you it says when the cons was first in power the tax was 50p but they changed it to 45p so more money to the rich, it says in the newspaper we could of had 11 billion in tax lost for changing the tax for the rich the 11 billion could of gone to the NHS but no because the cons wanted their rich pals to get richer
Income tax is a progressive tax – i.e. the more you earn, the more you pay.
NI is similar but has a cut-off so the stinking rich do not have to pay quite so much of their income.
VAT and fuel tax are REGRESSIVE taxes; it doesn’t matter how much (or how little) you earn, you still pay!
Your argument about money is precisely the thinking that got us into a £1.5trillion deficit.
You have banded almost every motorist as non essential car users!
I suggest you read my comments & put yourself in not only my position, but thousands of other people in a similar situation?
My nearest shopping centre is Barnstaple, some 15 miles from where I live, so how on earth do you expect me & thousands of other people to shop, etc?
I suggest you climb down from your high horse & live in the real world!
My real world is such that not taking the car is possible and less costly than taking it, so why should I do otherwise? As for your statement about non essential car users, I am only quoting the figures published by my local authority: nearly half of daily drivers are alone in their car and use it for ridiculously short distances. I am not pointing the finger at you specifically, so you only take it personally because you choose to do so.
That’s the price of living in the countryside.
In that case all food producedin the rural areas should be sold for at least double the price so those in towns and cities pay such workers decent wages, rural areas should be provided with equal train and bus service to the towns by spending the same on rural areas for all other facilities, stop building all the facilities in towns at the cast to rural council tax payers.
You can afford to take a train, maybe you have more money than the rest of us!!! No public transport left in the countryside now……
I can afford to take the train because combined with cycling it costs me less time and money than the travel in my car, the petrol and the parking costs. Simple maths.
You must be in an area close to a railway station and with good public transport . This is not the case for all of us I could not use public transport to get to work if I wanted to first bus is not until half an hour after my starting time then it has to get there .
Ok right I’ll just cycle 40 miles work then shall I to a rural area and then cycle 40 miles back home again after a 10 hour day.
What works for an individual doesn’t work for another. If you’re going to participate in a debate, at least try to look at the big picture, not just your own personal case. I’m having a go at those who like me can use the alternatives if they make the effort, not those who can’t. 😉
Simbeb, You talk about the bigger picture without it seems any understanding of what it is. The problem that many where I reside have to use their own transport due to the fact that Public Transport in this area is very bad. The adult population here is approx. 6000 and the first bus in the morning is 6.30am (no Rail Station here) and rail station is approx 4miles away. As many like myself have to be at work to start at 6.00am with no direct bus route, then personnel transport is the only way to get there.
I do not know where you live but it seems you have good transport links so you are lucky
So don’t bemoan those who have no other means of getting too where they need to go by using their own transport and have the right to complain at this taxation increase. They should raise NI payments to fund the NHS, then almost everyone will contribute towards their care if they should need it and make the NHS charge those who are not UK citizens as other countries do
So do you think buses and trains won’t increase their fares for people who can’t afford a car? Do you also think food deliveries etc. won’t pass on these rip off increases. If you can’t afford a car , I’m sure you can’t afford a spike in food prices! They increase it when there are no increases so may God help you when there is an increase!
tell me how i can carry 10 banana boxs of gear even one mile on a bike?
On your head, havent you see how africa do it?
What happens if you are disabled and can not walk or cycle, the means is you can only use your car, or the disabled have to stay at home
Public Transport can be a non-starter. In order for me to get to work it would cost me £21 a day. Whereas driving to work only costs me £5 approx. a day.
So Simbeb is saying If you have a house with gas and electric,dont put the heating on when its cold,use a blanket instead.Dont use the hot water ,make do with cold.
My friend their is a lot to be said to bumptious people like you but on these pages I`m afraid it would be unprintable.
There will be no Brexit dividend. Sinse the results of the referendum were announced everyone in the U.K. has been poorer due to the fall in the pound. For instance we import around half the food we eat as such food prices increased, as did fuel.
Jaguar Land Rover has just announced that investment in the U.K. if we get a hard Brexit will stop. Jlr have invested 40 billion over the last five years and planting spend another 80. That will be zero with a hard Brexit plus the loss of jobs.
Do the Tory’s honestly think that fuel duty will raise the money to fund the nhs. A hard Brexit will mean less tax revenue and as such all government budgets will suffer meaning less money for the nhs not more.
Aflat rate of say, of £100 per vehicle regardless of type would save a huge amount on administration. And I am sure would rake in a lot more revenue. Make cyclists have insurance !! in case they knock someone over riding on the pavement which they seem to do a lot a very dangerous practice.
Do you seriously imagine they will just walk away from the £40bn they’ve invested? Not a chance, the game will play exactly the same as it would if we stayed in the EU.
You might consider waiting until we actually HAVE a Brexit, not that that’s remotely likely.
We haven’t had Brexit yet, so there can’t be anything saved as we are still sending vast sums of money to the EU to squander. When we do leave it will take some time for the benefits to be realised, and there may not be any financial benefits for some years, as various parties try to punish us for our audacity in spoiling their cosy club.
Even then, it may not be used for the NHS seeing as we have politicians to rely on and they are rarely reliable. As an aside, the bus didn’t actually say that everything we save in it’s entirety would be used to fund the NHS, but that as a result of not sending all this money, we could afford to fund the NHS, but the figure was not quantified as this would be impossible at this stage.
Hopefully, that will be available once we have left the EU. To date, we still pay them.
Rip off gb at its best yet again I for one am luck to be working but haven’t even had a cost of living rise in 17 years so for me it will be less food pm if you want more money for the NHS stop giving foreign aid money away with any luck the people will rebel against you government crooks
Spot on Paul. It’s disgusting giving £13b odd away to these banana republics while our own country is suffering. Getup own house in order first. Kind regards, Ray
Paul – I couldn’t agree with you more. Most of the middle class are already squeezed beyond existence as it is. No pay rises for private sector in years and with inflation are worse off year on year. Price of petrol is disgusting in this country – most of it tax!! Drove past a BP Saturday afternoon – diesel near £1.30 – forecourt virtually empty. Went to Morrisons about a mile down the road – diesel £120.9 – forecourt rammed with each pump 3 cars deep and had to queue for ten mins!
You are lucky where I live it’s 1.27:7 at ASDA and at Tesco 1.29.9. Last Sunday petrol stations both sides on A74 to M6 for diesel it was 1.44.9 yet 2 miles up the motorway turn off the Carlisle (right beside motorway) ASDA at 1.27.7, always check now if ASDA TESCO etc are near by the motorway
It isn’t just the money which will be paid for road fuel by the motorist. EVERYTHING which at some stage has to be transported by road, ‘which is EVERYTHING’, will escalate in price. It will have to, because it is hardly fair or likely that the Hauliers will accept and absorb whatever the price increase will be.
It is therefore a logical conclusion to draw, that the current government couldn’t ‘give a fig’ about inflation, or the day to day well being of the population of this country. Surely a more common sense and fairer solution, would be to slash the foreign aid budget and raise income tax by 1% (one penny in the pound) and have that tax raise hypothocated specifically for use by the NHS. Alternatively, raise NI by 1%, similarly hypothocated.
However, lets not forget the merits of investing more money into the Armed Services. This would kick start the economy, as the Armed Services supply chain would need to grow in order to meet the increase in demand. This increase could well be funded by hyothication of a modest increase in Income Tax of the 1% order. The benefits of hypothication is that it prevents the mandarins of the treasury getting their sticky mitts on the increase and wasting our hard earned cash on something which is of no good to THIS country, but, raises ‘their prestige’ and sense of self importance. However, as we are dealing with Snivel Serpents here, I doubt much will come of these suggestions.
We haulers can’t absorb the cost. It’s always fluctuating massively for us. Even more than the forecourts.
I guarantee if an increased is confirmed haulage prices will be hiked up to match and perhaps a bit more… Why not we can blame it on the increase anyway.
You must be one of the lucky ones if your customers will accept that. We have to absorb increases in fuel 99% of the time
Incorrect, Torrys at its best again is the correct term.
Why do they need to increase fuel duty, when we eventually leave the EU we will save £35m a week on our membership is that not enough for god sake? Why do they have to bleed families dry of all there income, everything is so expensive now, put minimum wage up/up the tax free allowance to compensate the extra we will have to pay in fuel duty and most people will be happy! Another con to try and get all the diesel cars off the road!
We won’t save a penny from leaving the EU. Use common sense, please. It will cost us big time.
Whilst I agree with you re foreign aid it will unfortunately never happen since we have it set in stone the government will spend 0.7% of gross national income spent in foreign aid.
https://fullfact.org/economy/uk-spending-foreign-aid/
Maybe the government should look at cutting its spending elsewhere rather than putting more financial pressure on businesses and individuals. As for the environmental aspect, for the vast majority of people there will not be a choice, we are now dependant on fuel to live our lives, people will not drive less.
I’m looking forward to reading the Tory voters reaction to this!
SNP , FREEEDDDOOOOOMMMMMMMM.
INDY REF #2
See how torrys like having less of our money, robbing &*&*%%()£’s
The government need to start charging ALL vehicles that are on the roads no matter what CC the engine is or if they are electric,
plus start charging all these foreign trucks road usage charge as soon as they roll off the ferries or euro-tunnel, that will boost their coffers, then they could leave the bloody fuel tax alone, these Tories do nothing but try to bleed the driving public dry.
Great idea. Maybe they could do this and increase fuel duty; that way they could start increasing funding of other services too.
Agreed, that the Tories for you.
It’s funny how the cons had 1 billion to give to the dup to stay in power instead of giving it to the NHS
Nail on the head there, I wish i could give you more thumbs up. We are all being played for fools.
Are you the village idiot, the Tories gave that money to the Northern Ireland, not the DUP because Northern Ireland was owed that money for the countless years that the rest of the United Kingdom benefited from revenue increases to the detriment of Northern Ireland. We are still the poor relation of the United Kingdom and it will always be so as long as their idiots like you about.
I agree wholeheartedly that road tax should apply to all vehicles, my previous 2 cars were non road tax which was of obvious benefit to me & excellent mpg.
However, I have just purchased a mild hybrid car, again with excellent mpg but now pay £140 for the privilege.
I believe this is a small price to pay considering the savings on fuel. What I object to is that this government like all governments treat motorists with contempt!
Absolutely disagree with hiking up the cost of fuel tax, if money can be found for the events celebrating 70 years of the NHS then money can be found elsewhere to help the NHS?
What are the Tories doing different to labour in terms of squeezing the life out of our pockets. The Tories never touched fuel duty for 8 years, Labour increased it every time the red box came out. Tories OUT but not for Labour – A real change is needed!
Great idea – but Who?
UKIP
UKIP is a waste of time and votes! Look at the mess they’ve made. They convinced the country to vote to leave the e u,
then what happened? Farage walked away saying that’s it we’re out.
See ya.
And cycles?
This was looked at years ago by HMRC and going as far as investing in an IT concept. It was abandoned due to a) Cost and b) UK haulage industry lobbying as they said EU would charge our hauliers for landing in Europe.
Wasn’t it Stobart that moved their fleet abroad as it was cheaper to come back to UK than be based here?
Only a few trucks are based in Belguim
Get the long distance wagons off the roads on to the rail, then HS2 would make a profit and might even have to go to Scotland!!!
HS2 is a waste of money. Reopen the alternate routes closed in the 60s.
So every high street and factory and out of town shopping centre has its own rail track, what twoddle trains are only good for coal mines, cement, cars, Granite, High volume stuff, if we didn’t have so many people we wouldn’t need all these nasty dirty trucks, if we didn’t have Sunday shopping and 24hr opening we could have truck free Weekends like France etc.
Labour do the same.
Foreign trucks already pays as soon as they roll off the ferry you dumb-a** (called HGV levy), they as well pay same fuel duties when they fuel-up. But why that even matters, it is not like fuel duty paying for the roads in this country – at least I hope you not dumb enough to suggest that?! Last year government collected nearly £37bn in road taxes and duties… how much they spent “on the roads”? Well… currently they increased spending per parliament by £12bn to ~£22bn. That is ~£4.4bn a year… and that is not for “roads”… it is for all s**t thing like cycling lanes, private capital public transport companies subsidies, pavements… and little bit for roads maintenance ~ £2bn all in all. So from £37bn they collected last year ~ £32bn was general taxation and nothing to do with roads, ~ 3bn wasted on unnecessary expenses and only £2bn put back into the roads. Lets now just consider this – in period between 2003 and 2010 UK government paid £2.2bn to Arriva (German capital company), at the same time Arriva made profits averaging ~£300mln every year, or £2.1bn in the period. So why government is paying subsidies to private company which is making profits anyway… even if it doesn’t make profit?! it is private company!!! why government should be funding it. So effectively between 2003 and 2010 government paid more to stakeholders in German company for no good reason, then they spend for all road maintenance a year. Well that is an issue I think, not the f***** lorries bringing goods into this country.
Foreign lorries don’t fuel up in the UK, the same with UK trucks running abroad, they don’t fill up here either they do in France and Luxembourg though the price difference is getting narrower,
They could actually start using road tax to fix the roads, oh wait, thats a myth….
I don’t see why it’s drivers that have to pay for the NHS. All people should be paying towards it if that’s the case. It’s the usual cash cow story. Whack the driver it’s easier that way.
WHY CANT THEY PUT THE CAR TAX BACK ON ALL VEHICLES,IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO BY SO CALLED ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY CARS,PAYING ROAD TAX IS A TINY PRICE.
I agree 100%. Why should only those with money be excluded from paying to use the same roads as a poorer person with little if any money ? There is no reasoned excuse why owners of electric vehicles should not pay to use the roads that everyone else does…even if the Gov diverts the monies elsewhere.
They already have on ALL new vehicles from April last year!
What about electric cars? No Road Fund licence & no Fuel Tax increase. Come on Government make them pay as well especially if it is to support the NHS.
as I keep staying all the time only 30% of the population vote a government into power you will never get a government that does what the whole country wants
That’s because government only doses what big business want. Money in their pockets.
Very true.
SNP , FREEEDDDOOOOOMMMMMMMM.
INDY REF #2
See how torrys like having less of our money, robbing &*&*%%()£’s
Don’t forget also that when they recharge electric cars from domestic electricity supply they only pay 5% VAT not the full 20%, the 5% VAT was for use in the home not running cars, there should be an electric car tax to deal with this.
There has got to be better and fairer ways to fund the NHS than hitting families who rely on a car to get to their workplace, for a start Hybrid/electric cars should pay road tax, after all they still need the roads to travel to their destinations, bear in mind some Hybrids are less fuel efficient than a lot of diesels, restrict all vans to under 70mph, fit compulsory black boxes to cars so drivers who habitually speed are caught and heavily fined or even banned, Green campaigners do they actually use the roads or just stay at home sponging off those that do work. There is no easy fix since most people have to move around be it work/shopping/getting children to their places of education, public transport can help a few but is not an option for many who have early/late shifts, country dwellers with facilities several miles away, as I said there is no easy fix.
you say the government has only made x amount of profit by not putting the tax up on fuel but the price of fuel has been going up at a staggering rate almost daily this has meant extra tax for the government hence the reason that they have done nothing about the rip off prices
It’s interesting to read comments that routinely attack those ‘nasty Tories’ and anyone who votes for them. Yet the article quite clearly states that the fuel duty escalator has not risen for 8 years, which just happens to correlate with the period that the Conservatives have been in control, but increased every year during 13 years of Labour tenure.
At least try to consider the facts before routinely Tory bashing, and you may find out that there are many other things blamed on those ‘nasty Tories’ that in fact were either started by Labour or continued during their 13 years of power when they had every opportunity to change or even reverse policies that the public does not like.
On the subject of politicians in general and their absolute refusal to increase income tax, it’s time they started thinking about the nation instead of their political kudos. A small increase in income tax alongside an increase in personal allowances would allow the raising of funds to be far better targeted towards those who can most afford it without crippling them financially. The basic rate of income tax was 30% as recently as 1986 and nobody suffered as a consequence. Income tax needs to have fully variable rates depending on the circumstances of the day, not something on an ever downward spiral while at the same time, new covert methods are continually introduced to tax us in less visible ways, which usually penalise the less well off, and have been the tool used by politicians of both parties over the last 30 years or so.
it was thatcher that announced the x% above index fuel duty increase,but it didn;t come into force until she was voted out…yes great old tories , they really save us money…
Stop the aid that goes abroad stop the payments to the European union and give that money to the NHS British tax paid to help British people . No need to increase fuel prices.
If people use their cars less (where they can) then there will be less tax being paid……Self defeating!
There are so many easier ways to raise money for the NHS.
*Stop foreign aid to countries who don’t need it or waste it on wars etc.
*Stop the NHS being ripped off by unscrupulous big pharmaceutical manufacturers and ensure the NHS buyers are not receiving back-hander incentives by them.
*Charge full cost of treatment etc to foreigners who have not paid into our scheme, as so many other countries do.
*Cut the top dogs salary at the NHS and pay more to the real workers.
*Stop giving tax incentives to huge companies.
*Raise tax bands on the grotesque salaries and bonuses of executives in banks and other huge companies.
*Stop bailing out inefficient companies (with our money) If individuals get into financial trouble, nobody bails them out!
*Stop wasting time and resources on the little guy tax-dodgers and put all efforts into the really big tax-dodgers where it will make a difference and not cost more to investigate than they claw back.
There are I’m sure, many more ways of making up the NHS deficit.
The whole tax system in this country is so one-sided and unfair in so many ways and needs a total overhaul ASAP.
I agree completely. Rip off Britain it will never change while the Tories are in power ,they will line their pockets with pay awards while we all suffer a 1% rise if you are very lucky
I’ve had no pay rise for at least 10 years…..where’s my 1%!!
Agree with so much of what’s being said here but it will be no different, actually worse, under Labour. There is also a system that’s been proven but no UK government has the nerve to try it, have a flat rate of income tax for every taxpayer no matter what their earnings, that way, big companies, institutions and the super rich won’t bother with avoidance schemes as they would cost more to operate than to simply pay the tax due, the treasury would get massive boost tax receipts and millions would be saved in avoidance investigations etc. This system has been used and it works, but don’t hold yer breath!!
Keith the big guys and the rich will always look for ways to avoid paying tax no matter how low it was …. It’s just what they do.
Whilst I love the idea, what would actually happen is the super rich would still win as their income can be based anywhere in the world. All this does is lose us revenue to the pot. I’d rather have 1% of a billion than bugger all. Not saying it’s fair, the last time it was tried in the 1970s the super rich all fled the country.
It only changes with Labour because they borrow or sell the gold reserve like Brown
Whereas the Tories ONLY sold-off our electricity, gas, water, off-shore oil, railways, parts of our NHS and GPO telephones and Royal Mail ……. principally to other EU nations’ treasury coffers. All in the name of bringing competition to these sectors for OUR benefit.!
What a poor memory you and a lot of people have! The Tories have sold off the family silver at every opportunity! All the state owned assets/industry, mostly to themselves of course, Throwing thousands out of their employment
They threw a little corn down to tempt the greedy in order to prevent opposition and convinced everyone THAT it would be a great idea, we could all buy shares. This will create competition in the energy companies they announced Of course we all know how well that went don’t we!! And we all know where the shares went, to the rich Tories of course!
SNP , FREEEDDDOOOOOMMMMMMMM.
INDY REF #2
See how torrys like having less of our money, robbing &*&*%%()£’s
The Labour were no better, they landed us in one financial crisis after another.
It was the banking crisis not Labour, the MP Brown had a plan to get back on track but some people wanted to vote for the ‘cons’ people will never learn just think about the Thatcher years
What a load of s**t that is. Labour caused it by massive irresponsible borrowing to keep benefit claimants onside. They would do the same given the chance.
This is what polititions would expect, all politicians from all parties promise us a better GB but with their bickering in house like 5yr old children and some conning the system. Charity begins at home so why try con public with more taxes..
Yes, the problem with socialism is that eventually other people’s money runs out then you are left with a deficit that the poorest people end up paying back because the rich have moved on.
I fully agree , they only look after the lame and lazy. I work in retail and it is the unemployed ,those on benefits ,who have the money to spend . They don’t care about anything apart from themselves. My policy is NO WORK ,NO MONEY, And don’t pay child benefit , the town where I live is full off Teenage Mothers NOT working ,but can afford to buy Lottery and scratch cards and alcohol . These are the People Labour Look after.
What’s wrong WITH you, it was a WORLD recession! Labour had no control over what happened.
Yes, there was a global recession and banking crisis; the problem was that Labour kept borrowing more and more money, getting the country deeper and deeper into debt, even before the banking crisis which tipped us over the edge……
Spot on Les, people have very short memories. The last Labour government left a note to the incoming chancellor saying sorry there’s no money left in the treasury. Borrowing is not the answer and for sure selling off the countries assets wasn’t in the best long-term interests of the country. Just like any successful company or organization, it has to be well run and profitable for everyone from the top to the bottom. That, in turn, generates wealth and an equal society for everyone to live in.
SNP , FREEEDDDOOOOOMMMMMMMM.
INDY REF #2
See how torrys like having less of our money, robbing &*&*%%()£’s
No government of any political persuasion is interested in helping the common man the MPs are too busy looking after themselves and their own selfish interests
It is not only the Torres that are ripping off Britain, Labour did their fair share when in government but by your tone you are Labour supporter and are in denial that they were just as bad. God help this country if Labour get into power because Corbin certainly won’t.
Too true people will in the end will start to use there cars less and less tax will go to government and there fore less money goes to where it is needed where it needs to be
Just get rid of torrys, problem solved.
Another scam from the thieves of Westminster, if they really wanted to save money they could stop financing wars and regime change throughout the ME. Cut the wasteful fat of the trust management system of the NHS that still employs more management consultants to do their work, make health tourism pay instead of free. Ripoff Britain at its best. Thieves and conmen occupy Whitehall and Westminster.
It is just another squeeze on the household budget, as regards the NHS, what has happened the Brexit windfall hat is supposed to pay for it?
We’re still in the EU at the moment so until we finally leave we are still paying for the old boys club!
There is a misconception that a fuel duty increase will only hit the motorist. In fact everyone is hit through increased costs in anything that involves the use of fuel; deliveries, food and drink, public transport, etc., etc. Another example of how the government tries to hoodwink all of us. The motorist, of course, suffers a double whammy!
Rather than discussing which vehicles should this burden be thrown on, we should be focusing on other things.
The U.K. motorist is the bearer of all the raises for everything.
Alcohol duty should be raised as it’s not a necessity.
Foreign spending should be stopped or minimised whether it’s for aid or for meddling in other countries affairs. This alone would make a massive difference.
It will probably help with reducing refugees into Europe as a whole.
We need to concentrate on our country and leave others to manage theirs.
I don’t think it’s fair to suddenly start attacking electric/hybrid vehicles, because they are environmental friendly and the reason most people have bought them in the 1st place is to save on costs and help the environment at the same time.
The environmental groups who say fuel duty should be increased need to look at it realistically and be pressuring to get cheaper alternatives for people. As if someone is going to not use their car to travel to work because it costs more, we HAVE to carry on using our vehicles, like another person on here mentioned we are dependant in them. Unless there are cheaper, more reliable and more frequent public services about.
UK is the only place where the motorist is punished for being a motorist but always just rolls over and accepts it. That’s the reason why the government just carries on and always will. Sad but true.
Agree that alcohol duty should be increased, also cigarettes as they are both non-essentials.
except electric cars are not environmently friendly, not all the electricity comes from a renewable source it still comes from a polluting power station. Then there is all the chemicals in the batteries, tyres. The electric/hybrids should all pay vehicle tax.
The next problem is the government are planning on banning all petrol/diesel and electric cars with less than 50 miles range on a single charge. When this happens how are people going to travel to work that is over 10 miles away and takes too long to travel by public transport.
Electric cars are too expensive and if you get a 2nd hand one the chances are the batteries need replacing which cost the same price as a small fossil fuel car to be replaced professionally.
There will be a lot of people lossing there jobs or worse people committing suicide because they cant get a job because its too far to travel and they cant afford a car anymore. Even if the Government decide to gave you money for trading in your fossil fuel car for an electric one it wont help because of the National Minimium Wage is too little to live on.
Rant over.
Writing to my MP is a complete waste of time as he always follows the Government line and won’t budge, he doesn’t care about anything else but himself. Replies to my letters in the past have always made excuses in support of their twisted policies.
I live in a small village in North Devon, the only bus service is one at 8am & one at 9am taking passengers & school children to Barnstaple & one bus returning from Barnstaple in the
afternoon. I recently purchased a “mild” hybrid car in order to reduce my fuel costs, I & my partner are 70 years old & we make as many changes as possible to reduce our outgoings in order to live a reasonably comfortable life.
However, should the cost of fuel duty rise then we, like many others would be deprived of going shopping, visits to our GP, Dentists, etc leaving us stranded!
We motorists are penalised at every level & an easy target, becoming a “cash cow” to all & sundry!
I, like thousands of other motorists will be making our voices heard & I shall be writing to my MP to voice these concerns!
What is tax on fuel for? these days.
At this time most of us have no idea
of the amount of tax on a quid of Fuel.
Can you let us know, please.
Hi Dee, have a look at http://www.petrolprices.com/the-price-of-fuel/ which explains what tax on fuel goes to
Typical.
Half these pompous old gits don’t even have to pay for fuel!!!! And the other half ride bikes!!!!
I have to pay for my fuel, and heat a house with 3 kids in it. I ride my bike quite a lot but I also have 2 cars. Which half of pompous old gits do I belong to?
The answer is in the story,Mrs May says “We ALL need to pay more to support the NHS not just the motorist, we all need access to good health care so we all should pay so that would mean an increase in general taxation so we are all paying not just the motorist, also if fuel tax is increased then that would lead to price increases in many other goods we need to buy on a daily basis.
I don’t mind funding maternity wards and genuine A&E’s but I don’t agree to funding suits’ huge pay rises, Rip off pharmaceutical companies, the managers who sign off the highest quotes for work and goods for their own gain,
drug abusers, violent patients and people who visit the doctors and hospitals for a day out!
And lining the the pockets for the cons and their rich pals
Beeaching got rid of the railways. Now heavy vehicles smash up the roads and countryside as will HS2. Money from these would help the NHS.
How about scrapping hs2, which supposedly will save 20 mins on a journey, but at what cost?
How much would that save? Also, scrap the Heathrow expansion. How much is that going to cost.
We need to seriously review foreign aid. Perhaps it could be targeted where really needed.
If this weather is possibly a taste of the change in weather pattern, perhaps researching desalination plants to ensure future unlimited water supplies would be a better way to spend the savings, along with the nhs. It beggars belief the way our government cannot plan spending more effectively. They purport to be intelligent people, why can’t they prove it?
Why oh why is the motorist the eternaln cash cow? Fuel duty and vat is total rip off. Hence the well known programme Rip off Britain. However, the government is the biggest rip off merchant we are likely to encounter.
Believe it or not I used to vote Tory.
Firstly, I totally agree that the NHS needs a huge funding lift to keep it going. But it is totally unfair to take it from the motorist. Everyone uses the NHS at some time in their life, so the fairest way is to increase general taxation. Secondly I believe it is well past time that the DVLA road tax should be charged based on the mileage done by a vehicle, and not by its emissions. For example, why should someone whose car only does 500 miles per year be charged 290.00 for road tax, and someone else who does thousands of miles per year gets away with about 30.00. It’s total nonsense.
What happens if you are disabled and need the car some disabled people CAN NOT walk or cycle
By the way, remember that an income tax rise would not hit the poorest, since they should already be outside the income tax paying bracket anyway; so an income tax rise would only hit those who can afford it, or at least COULD afford it if they were at least honest about it.
The environmentalists are the hypocrites of the world make them pay!!!
Remember once the fuel goes up EVERYTHING GOES UP.
Lets not increase the fuel and alcohol duty in order to fund the NHS. We should instead restrict the service to those of us who have actually paid for the service. If you haven’t paid into the system you don’t get out of it. If you still need treatment but haven’t paid in pay on delivery, no money no treatment. Cut benefits to those who are able to work and choose not to. Put the money saved towards the cost of running the service. We could start by getting representatives into parliament who actually want to make an effort to change our corrupt system ……..
Car tax should be for keeping our roads in order and nothing else. We pay national insurance contribution for NHS. Car tax should NOT be used for anything else the government should be wrapped over the knuckles for this. NHS is the way it is because they have allowed it to be abused over the years. I’m sorry to say if you don’t pay into the contribution system you shot NOT be allowed to use it.
The amount which would be raised by increasing fuel tax could probably be raised by stopping the money paid out to countries which are actually better off than the UK. Surely we no longer need to swell the coffers of countries like India and other parts of our ”commonwealth”. As I said the majority of these overseas ”assets” are now richer than we are. I agree that we needed to help them when the commonwealth disappeared but they are now in a position where they are taking over parts of our country and our industry. Of course we need the industry to be helped but we are giving money to them which is needed more here than over there.
All electrically powered vehicles should be made to pay at least some VED, that would help a bit. All foreign vehicles should also have to pay to pay some tax to use the roads, after all we pay tolls on French main roads. To say that there has been a black hole created because fuel duty has been frozen is simply not true. We pay more fuel duty than almost every other country in the world, so far from creating a financial black hole, we’ve actually been propping up the country’s finances to the tune of billions of pounds over the years.
We should also cut foreign aid in half, cut out the waste in the NHS, cut the number of NHS bosses by at least half & that’s just the start. Of course all these things are too difficult for the poor loves, much easier to slap 10p a litre on fuel, to start from midnight tonight……………
If our government is short of money for the NHS it must start by making a large reduction in the amount given away in foreign aid and certainly not paying the EU anything at all in a Brexit deal.
Foreign aid is a mere pittance of the budget, if they stopped giving away so much to their buddies……i.e. proper corporation taxes. If everybody boycotted Amazon, Cafe Nero etc. many of whom either pay NO tax or totally irrelevant amounts; and if taxation was fair….The NHS as part of the welfare system was set up based on ‘each according to his means, and each according to his needs’. The poor pay more in real terms for the NHS……….and the tories are making sure of that……
If they stopped giving billions away to foreign aid, we’d all be better off. Charity begins at home.
Looks like we are going to get screwed again by the government
Agree with you there
fuel duty is the wrong place for the taxation, imho the decision should not be do i make journey a or not it should be do i need a car (or a second/third one) or not.
Hence an increase in Road fund licence, and probably making it payable monthly by DD and either scraping or severe reduction in fuel duty. this makes more sense as an environmental policy, but they’d probably have issues selling it to the Car manufacturers they are trying to keep Post Brexit.
The NHS doesnt need considerably more money, the way its been organised since the 2012 Health and social care act leads to it haemoraging cash and delivering a far worse service with lesser choice. If it was still a single orgganisation delivering healthcare to the nation it would be able to do it for less.
It’s the people who voted the cons in
Cut dole, free housing etc for the long term fit and healthy professional scrounges. That will save billions a year.
Take away tax credit for people who choose to work a few hours a week and then have their money topped up by full time workers via tax.
Stop giving away billions to the bone idle.
I am not including the genuine sick and elderly.
TheYup, you will have to spend more on bars on your windows if you cut the dole, they won’t work for a living, they’ll just steal from you instead.
Paul
It is a pity we can’t deport them to Australia anymore.
If from present resources the money that goes to the NHS will receive mobey that at present goes to the EU after we leave. If we can support from the present then why a need to increase fuel duty?? Both are sopported at present then it can continue after Brexit. Of course greedy politicians will not understsnd oure logic.
Why is it always the motorist the first target? Road tax should all be spent on Britain’s roads. Fuel one of most expensive in the world why why?
Motoring should not be classed as a luxury more a necessity.
Our government are supposed to be educated clever people but no matter whose in power all the same. Brexit 9 months away disgraceful embarrassing situation for GB.
Fund the NHS…? I’m sure we all believe those lying snakes ha!
But Rip off Britain? parking, housing and speed cameras yes… but virtually everything else no.
I now live in France and the fuel is far more expensive, along with everything else!
Stop borrowing and giving away 14 BILLION each year to countries which don’t want, need, use it properly, then I wouldn’t mind an increase!
When fuel goes up, EVERYTHING goes up including of course, food, clothing and everything in between because transportation of goods and services has to increase. Fuel increases are a no win for anyone, including the government, what they gain in fuel duty, they lose in the inevitable dip in the economy and the cost of the job loses that follow, it’s just simple arithmetic.
This is unbelievable but also believable. I agree about tax increasing on alcohol which may help prevent accidents etc but increasing petrol prices, why? Low income people are still struggling to make ends meat let alone pay through the nose for fuel to get to there jobs. it’s absolutely rediculous, it’s already 129.9, do they really need to make any more money from us. I bet they barely pay pences per litre but with the government tax and extra what fuel stations add has made it what it is. Can’t they make it better for us in lowering it instead, try helping out the smaller people rather than those who just get paid to sit on there asses doing noting all day.
A few years ago I saw a Subaru Impreza with a bumper sticker complaining about the cost of fuel! Which says it all really. No one likes paying tax and we are encouraged to believe we can have a low tax economy but keep a first world level of services. It’s time we all grew up and accepted that if we want safe communities and care for the elderly and protection for children, and education, and decent health care etc. etc. we have to pay for it.
Given, contrary to childish opinion, that global warming is a catastrophic thread to our children and grandchildren, fuel duty seems like a pretty good way to levy that tax. To make it fairer I would ration fuel so that everyone would have an allocation at a lower duty and the profligate could pay through the nose, possibly having to buy fuel ‘ration’ from those who choose more economical cars or cycle. I can’t be bothered answering inane outraged response to this -suffice to say those who think we can continue consuming finite world resources indefinitely whilst polluting our environment are entitled to an opinion but should not be taken seriously.
If the government is short of money they ought to stop giving it away in aid and charity where every pound you the voter/general public give, the government will give another pound.
Agree money should be for the UK NHS etc not giving it away in aid, charity should start at home
Sorry but I disagree with these comments. Remember – leaving the EU was going to fund the NHS. Andfuel duty gets nowhere near paying for the environmental and human damage/cost of motoring in all it’s forms. Nobody will like this but it doesn’t alter the fact that we are still causing more damage and piling up more costs that our children and grandchildren will have to pay. Stopping overseas aid aid won’t help, if we don’t alter the way we consume and waste our resources.
Is this not just a ‘let’s hide the fact we’re not making any gain in Government available income when we leave the EUssr’ move? Today the 70th anniversary of the NHS is being celebrated yet why would any right-minded person celebrate something that, it is claimed, is no longer fit for purpose? Strange how, as we’re due to leave the EUssr in March 2019 all these taxes will be introduced or increased from April 2019.
Hardship as pensioners in a very rural community where local garages already charge over the odds.
I am a disabled pensioner and need my car for shopping, visiting family and going to Doctors etc. I am only just managing now to run my car and if there is an increase in fuel duty I won’t be able to. This will make me a virtual prisoner in my own home.
That’s what the government the cons want, they are not bothered about the the man/woman in he street, all the cons want is to line their own pockets and make their rich pals richer
Drinkers and drivers to be hit yet again. No let up at all for the working man. Its hard enough already but increased prices will probably result in lowered sales as ordinary people will be unable to afford to go out at all, or is that really what the politicians want anyway? Absolutely disgusting
A big fat yes
The UK government spends between £30-50 million per year on supporting terrorists in Syria under the guise of the “White Helmets” plus £ tens of millions on UK personnel trying to overthrow the legitimate government. These funds would be far better spent on the NHS and road improvements. The UK has no right to foment war in other countries and destroying the livelihood of the local people.