Julia Lopez MP has co-signed a letter with over 70 other MPs urging the Chancellor not to increase the cost of fuel in her budget at the end of this month.
Reports suggest that the new Labour Chancellor is considering raising fuel duty in next week’s budget. Analysis shows that a 5p increase could cost Havering motorists an extra £160 a year each.
In a joint letter to Rachel Reeves, Julia along with dozens of Conservative MPs asked the Chancellor to consider the impact of a rise in fuel duty on low-income families, small businesses and the logistics industry.
Fuel duty has remained frozen for the last 14 years, currently standing at 6p less than when Labour was last in power.
Working with FairFuelUK and Saqib Bhatti MBE MP the MP for Hornchurch & Upminster claims that hiking fuel duty slows economic growth, costs jobs, stokes inflation and reduces consumer spending.
Latest evidence from the Centre for Economic Business Research predicts that raising fuel duty will only bring about short-term benefits for the Treasury and the long-term impact of raising fuel duty could lead to a collapse in revenue by 60%, within five years.
Julia Lopez has also called for the Government to continue the delivery and roll-out of the Conservative Government’s PumpWatch scheme, which allowed motorists to find the lowest forecourt pump prices. The MP argues this would protect motorists, families, and businesses across the UK.
Any potential rise to Fuel Duty would pile more misery on Havering motorists who were hit by Mayor Khan’s ULEZ expansion last year.
