We’ve had an amazing response to our campaign to protect motorists from more fuel-tax rises.
In conjunction with The Sun newspaper, we’ve been calling on the government to honour its pre-election pledge to give drivers a break by freezing fuel duty.
Rising oil prices have had a huge impact on Britain’s motorists in recent months. The nation’s car owners are now paying £12 million a day more than a year ago to fill their tanks, and these extra costs come on the back of massive hikes in car insurance premiums in 2010.
You can help put pressure on ministers to block fuel-tax hikes by signing our petition here. We’re also calling on the coalition to introduce a fuel-duty stabiliser, which would cut the amount of tax levied when petrol prices rise.
Since we launched our campaign earlier this year, we’ve had hundreds of messages of support from readers who are fed up with the constantly rising cost of fuel. Here are just a few:
ByronicTalk says: “It is callous and cruel for a government to constantly add to a tax on a product which has been constantly rising in price itself and at a time of financial hardship to boot!”
And Fuelforthought adds: “What really annoys me is that so little of the revenue raised by taxing fuel is actually spent on the roads. Countries such as Japan spend more on the roads than they actually receive in motor taxes.”
And the effect on rising fuel prices on the cost of other products shouldn’t be forgotten, as Gwyneth points out: “It is not only as a motorist we get hit by fuel hikes. All goods we buy are transported and delivered by road so this increases the price of everything.”
We received more than 300 comments on the petrol price campaign, so if you want to take a read follow this link.
Top Tip: Find out how much you’re paying for petrol or diesel using our fuel cost calculator. Just type in your make and model of car, the amount you pay for fuel, and your typical mileage.
These unfair practices mus stop, we are being bled on fuel prices in our private motoring and then bled again when goods rise in price as a result. It's criminal that indiscriminate price hikes keep happening.
Posted by: Mary Cowieson | 02/27/2011 at 05:43 PM
I would sign, but never if you've (Confused) have partner-shipped with The Sun!
Have some self respect!
Posted by: D Karl | 02/27/2011 at 07:38 PM
We think the fuel rise is disgusting & downright robbery !! Our son has to travel all over with his job ,, & uses £40 to £50 aday in deisal !! You might think this a bit far fetched but it,s true,, his van is so big that he needs for his job & dosn,t get any PETROL ALLOWANCE either !!! So for a single man trying to keep his head above water so to speak is downright hard !!! By the time he,s got his fuel & paid his bills he has very little to live on !!! Again the food of life ie cost of food ect is another robberywhich i,m sure everyone will agree with me !!! So come on & fight for change & a bit easier living !!!
Posted by: mr derek elsworth | 02/27/2011 at 08:01 PM
my thoughts in my retirement was to enjoy getting about, by road train etc, but all thing so expensive, I am finding it the only place I can go is the armchair,I wish the overmant would come down to earth.
Posted by: Gerald MICHAEL | 02/27/2011 at 08:03 PM
19 millionairs in the cabinet what do they care.
Posted by: k.kitchen | 02/27/2011 at 08:06 PM
As petrol prices rise daily, we all suffer. The government are not about the people at all. they lie and never keep their promises. They do not suffer when fuel prices go up and up because they are earning lots of money for doing very little. It is the middle and working classes that suffer the most. Why vote at all? We always get shafted one way or another!
Posted by: Lisa Miller | 02/27/2011 at 08:18 PM
Have a thought for old age pensioners who have to rely on the car in a rural area with NO bus service
Posted by: J.C.Gilhooly | 02/27/2011 at 08:40 PM
i am a careful driver and just because i am a women we are being penalised when there are idiots out on the roads every day getting cheaper insurance than me its just not FAIR !!!!
Posted by: louise webster | 02/27/2011 at 08:54 PM
As a rural female driver who has do commute daily I am being hit twice, the insurance and petrol prices. The government seems to think that motorists are cash cows but even cows can turn and attack, maybe it is time we did. Any suggestions?
Posted by: Sandi Shah | 02/27/2011 at 09:11 PM
When is it all going to end getting beyond a joke. it used to cost me £15 to fill half a tank of petrol it is now more like £23. What with everything else going up where are we all going to end up . Why is it cheaper up the north and in other countries
Posted by: mrs. Jean Luff | 02/27/2011 at 09:42 PM
I am a carer. I don't get paid much as it is. The price rises in fuel make me feel as though I am doing this job for nothing, maybe the government should consider giving us the privelidge of using "red diesel" as they do for the farmers, or are jobs not as important?
Posted by: midge | 02/27/2011 at 10:23 PM
make the poor more poor the cost of liveing today is a joke but all them MPS are liveling off us we need to have more of a say, makes me so mad save save how can you save when you cant live has it is
Posted by: danielle maddocks | 02/27/2011 at 10:43 PM
It's interesting that whilst the price of fuel continues to rise, exacerbated by fuel-taxes, the fuel producers still seem to be making a more than healthy, some might say embarrassing level of profit.
It's even more interesting that the mileage rates per mile allowed by HMRC remains at 40 pence/mile. It's been there a LONG time. Many years in fact.
So, not only is the Government sitting by and watching the fuel price rise, not only are they adding to the rise with their taxes, but they are then WITHHOLDING a proportionate rise in mileage expenses.
From http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/fuel_company_cars.htm
"They are intended to reflect actual average fuel costs at the time they are set."
And from http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/advisory_fuel_current.htm:
"Will the rate per mile figures change if fuel prices go up or down?
"The rates are reviewed twice a year. Any changes will take effect on 1 June and 1 December and will be published on the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website shortly before the date of change.
"HMRC will also consider changing the rates if fuel prices fluctuate by 5 per cent from the published rates when each review is made and we consider the price change will be sustained."
Oh REALLY? Not much evidence of change I'm afraid. It's been 40 ppm for a very long time. SINCE 6th APRIL 2002 IN FACT!!! Back then the average price for a litre of petrol was 70p. SEVENTY! It's almost doubled since then, yet it's STILL 40 ppm.
See: http://www.cheapaccounting.co.uk/blog/?p=107
Posted by: S. Dowle | 02/27/2011 at 11:14 PM
Why should women pay higher rates when they drive safer than men. get this goverment out and yes the queen can.
Posted by: older lady driver | 02/27/2011 at 11:46 PM
New Zealand pay two thirds less than us, they are a small country, so why is our prices so high. Sorry I am not a fat cat.
Posted by: older lady driver | 02/27/2011 at 11:51 PM
I earn £160 a week out of that I now pay in excess of £40 a week in petrol to keep myself in a job and Im dreading the insurance renewal coming through, I've taken the car off the road for two days a week and would use the car less if I could, hit these rob dogs where it hurts the most and thats in their big fat wallets, if everybody where to unite and keep away from the petrol stations surely something could be done, unfortunately the british nation wont go without and just pay up and seem content to moan about the fuel costs, theres no fighting spirit in us anymore and we let this government walk all over us and leave most of us on the breadline. Shame on us all for not speaking up for ourselves.
Posted by: very disgruntled british tax payer | 02/28/2011 at 05:45 AM
In answer to 'Very Disgruntled British Taxpayer. I agree completely in what you say. It is only by the likes of us the motorist turning on the government that something will be done. Look at what is happening in the world when people stand up for their rights. Governments are overturned. I'm NOT advocating violence in any way but I am suggesting that we should hurt the government in where it will be most painful - in their wallets. By staying away from 'things' which are heavily taxed then and only then will the IDIOTS and greedy idiots at that in the government take some kind of action. So at the very least sign a petition but if you can use your car less - I've started walking more and have lost weight through it and stop buying luxury goods that are heavily taxed, then that will be a start. If anybody else has any ideas I'd be very interested in hearing them. Protest until they listen. And please don't as somebody else has suggested stay away from the voting booths - vote them out at the next election and send them a very strong message that the British Public will not stand for any more Draconian treatment from those who live a thousand times better than the majority of those it is supposed to serve. Berrengaria
Posted by: Linda Parkinson | 02/28/2011 at 09:54 AM
Why on earth do we have to put up with this, fuel rises affect almost everything in our day to day lives. We shouldn't have to pay such high prices on top of a price hike on everything else. Seem's like the government have found a way to Tax our air without putting on paper!!!!!
Posted by: Calvin | 02/28/2011 at 10:25 AM
The governement should reduce taxes on fuel, at present approx 70% is collected by the inland revenue in taxes vat fuel charges
Posted by: J.J.van Maurik | 02/28/2011 at 12:04 PM
Surely the Government could make a special
reduced tax for hauliers and bus transport
operators? Thus would prevent many of these
services being forced to raise their prices
to the public or go out of business!
Likewise, a special reduced tax could be introduced for farmers and countryside residents (based on address) who have to
travel into towns for work. As in the war,
fuel could be suitably coloured for such
differentiation!
Posted by: Ron Bissett | 02/28/2011 at 12:32 PM
I AM AN OLD AGE PENSIONER WHO RELIES ON A CAR FOR TRANSPORT. i LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WHERE I RELY ON THE CAR. I AM FINDING WITH THE EVER INCREASING COSTS AND PENSIONS NOT RISING ENOUGH TO MEET THESE COSTS IT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE ON THE STATE PENSION. I AM NOW USING MY SAVINGS WHICH HARDLY MAKE ANY INTEREST IT IS MAKING LIFE MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE ON THE LITTLE SAVINGS I DO HAVE. IT SEEMS TO ME THE LESS WORK YOU DO THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE. I WORKED TIL I RETIRED AT 60 BUT AM NO BETTER OFF FOR IT.
Posted by: Miss J A Quaife | 02/28/2011 at 12:51 PM
I think its time this government understands the working mans position every 1p on petrol leads to extra cost for trans porting food which then gets passed to the the working mans goods he buys so it is time to stop guessing at ways to stop inflation and get to grips fundamentals.We cant keep puting up costs sooner or later it comes back to damage the economy
Posted by: edward hook | 02/28/2011 at 02:05 PM
Totally unfair when everyone knows that women are better drivers and have less accidents than men.
Posted by: K Ravenscroft | 02/28/2011 at 05:04 PM
Fellow Citizens!!!
Do we really have a government which caters for all its people or only those who are able.
Can`t the government do anything to eradicate this problem which is sowing now and again.
Is this the elected government we voted for with all empty promises we are going through.
Where are we to end?
Is this the so called big society,on public transport stranded on roads with buses because people can not drive, with the winter weather conditions, trains under upgrading on underground, overground all year round with delays? Are we in Britain?
Posted by: J | 02/28/2011 at 08:32 PM
why put insurance premiums for women when they already pay enough bring down insurance premiums for everybody male and female
Posted by: CHRISTINE CARLSEN | 03/01/2011 at 09:24 AM