Quentin Willson to challenge MPs
January 24th 2011 Columnist and TV presenter Quentin Willson will present MPs with letters from the Fair Fuel UK Campaign tomorrow (Jan 25) outside the House of Commons.
The campaign has written to every MP, asking for their support for:
- Scrapping April’s fuel duty rise.
- The introduction of a methodology for stabilising fuel prices.
Joining Quentin are, Theo de Pencier of the Freight Transport Association and Kate Gibbs, of the Road Haulage Association. Both organisations, who between them represent more than 20,000 businesses, are backing this campaign.
Peter Carroll of the Fair Fuel Campaign said: “Quentin Willson has a fantastic profile amongst the motoring public, and we are delighted that he is helping us. Our Campaign is reaching out to every type of business and the private motorist.
Theo de Pencier added: “With businesses wilting in the face of unsustainably high fuel costs, we urge MPs, businesses, motorists and all road users to get behind the Fair Fuel UK Campaign, otherwise the cost to the UK’s economy could be severe.”
With the Office for Budgetary Responsibility yet to announce its forecast for inflation, it looks as though the cost of fuel is going to rise by between three and five pence per litre on 1 April, leaving industry picking up the tab for a minimum of £375 million this year (based on a 3ppl rise). For a vehicle operator with a fleet of ten heavy goods vehicles this will mean having to find another £14,000.
Kate Gibbs said: “This is not a campaign about choice – it is a campaign about necessity. The economic recovery and future prosperity of the UK rests with the Chancellor. Plans to raise fuel duty by possibly as much as 5 pence on 1 April must be abandoned.” More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
