Motorists are being hit from all directions, Caroline Voaden has said, as the South Devon MP called for an emergency cut to fuel duty and lower public transport fares to help households and businesses cope with rising travel costs.
Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden is calling for an immediate 10p cut in fuel duty as part of what she described as an emergency transport package to “keep Britain moving”.
She said the Chancellor should bring forward measures to support families, pensioners and businesses facing higher costs linked to the conflict involving Iran, according to the press release provided by her office.
The package proposed by the Liberal Democrats includes cutting fuel duty by 10p, which the party said would reduce pump prices by 12p per litre, lowering bus fares to £1 from the current £3 cap, cutting rail fares by 10%, and reducing the cost of charging electric vehicles by cutting VAT on public charging and reviewing network costs.
Ms Voaden said she wanted the measures introduced for an initial three months, with the package kept under review and extended if fuel prices remain high.
She also said rural areas such as South Devon would be more heavily affected because of longer distances between towns and what she described as less reliable public transport.
Caroline Voaden said: “I’ve spoken to so many families, pensioners and businesses across South Devon who are worried sick about the skyrocketing costs of getting around, caused by Donald Trump’s dangerous war with Iran and cheered on by Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage.
“In a rural area like South Devon people have no choice but to use their cars to get to work, school or local shops. Local people here are already struggling. This rise in fuel prices is only going to make life even harder for people, especially those on low wages.
“We desperately need an emergency transport package to keep local communities moving, including an immediate cut in fuel duty to bring down prices at the pump by 12p per litre.
“We also want to see bus and train fares slashed and electric vehicle charging costs cut, to help everyone in South Devon save money, no matter how they travel.
“We can’t afford for the Chancellor to stand back, watch our brilliant community here in South Devon struggle and let Britain’s economy grind to a halt.”
