South Devon MP calls for immediate 10p cut in fuel duty

South Devon Lib Dem MP Caroline Voaden is calling for an immediate 10p cut in fuel duty, as part of an emergency transport package “to keep Britain moving”.

She has called on the Chancellor to bring forward an emergency package of support to help families, pensioners and businesses in South Devon with the costs of President Trump’s war on Iran.

The Liberal Democrats have set out a bold new transport plan to “keep local communities moving and tackle the cost-of-living crisis”:

• Cutting fuel duty by 10p, bringing down prices at the pump by 12p per litre.
• Slashing bus fares to £1, from the current £3 cap.
• Cutting rail fares by 10 per cent.
• Making it cheaper to drive electric vehicles, by cutting VAT on public charging and reviewing the unfair network costs that push up charging prices.

Ms Voaden is pressing the government to introduce this package for three months at first, but says it should be kept under review and could be extended if the crisis drags on for longer and fuel prices stay high in South Devon.

She also highlighted the increased impact these rising fuel prices will have on rural areas like South Devon who are more reliant on using cars given the longer distances between towns and less reliable public transport.

She says: “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.”