YOU FUELS
Fury after Boris and Hunt threaten fuel duty hike for millions of motorists
BORIS Johnson and Jeremy Hunt were today blasted for threatening to slap a tax hike on millions of motorists - after their refusal to commit to freezing fuel duty.
Stunned campaigners said the astonishing comments in Monday’s Sun leadership debate left hard-working Brits facing a £800million tax rise in April.
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They added it would push hauliers struggling with Brexit to the brink.
Petrol is near four-year highs as the global oil price rises and the pound plunges on the Brexit uncertainty.
Since the EU referendum, the lower Pound has pushed up pump prices in the UK by 9.5p per litre – an extra fiver a tank.
Fuel duty has been frozen since 2011 thanks to The Sun’s Keep it Down campaign and groups such as Fair Fuel UK– saving motorists billions at the pump.
Challenged in Monday’s leadership debate to extend the freeze, Boris Johnson said he would “love to” but he couldn’t make “any more spending commitments”.
“I’m not making any more bloomin’ spending promises,” he said.
Jeremy Hunt added: “I agree with Boris.”
'DOOMED TO OPPOSITION'
Boris has previously pledged to slash the top rate of tax for big earners while Mr Hunt has vowed to cut corporation tax.
Fair Fuel UK co-founder Howard Cox said the incredible move could cost both vital votes among hard-working Brits.
He said: “The highest taxed drivers in the world will be furious the next Prime Minister is already lining up a fuel duty increase.
“Taking up such a hardline position will definitely see the Tory Party doomed to opposition for a generation.”
AA president Edmund King stormed: “Whether we like it or not, the Pound will be increasingly unstable with the Brexit uncertainty so the government will get a windfall from that already in higher VAT.
“They should commit to extending the freeze now.”
The Road Haulage Association insisted that a hike to fuel duty would force some of its members to the wall – costing vital jobs.
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RHA chief Richard Burnett said: “UK hauliers are probably facing more challenges today than ever before. The repercussions of a No Deal Brexit, tariffs on new trucks, clean air zones all mean added expense.
"Truckers are already working to extremely narrow profit margins of around 2 per cent. It's inevitable that an increase in fuel duty, for those unable to pass on the additional cost, will mean the end of the road.
“Don't penalise the industry responsible for keeping the economy moving.”
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