UK NEWS
WE PAY HIGHEST TAX ON FUEL IN EUROPE
Motorists here have to pay duty higher than anywhere else in Europe
By Alison Little, Deputy Political Editor
BRITAIN'S drivers face the highest tax burden in Europe as the scale of Gordon Brown’s crippling fuel duty regime is exposed.
Official statistics yesterday showed diesel in the UK would be the cheapest in western Europe – if the taxes were scrapped.
And our unleaded petrol was the second cheapest in the region before the Government’s massive tax hikes.
The figures will add to drivers’ fury and fuel yet more support for the Daily Express crusade demanding that the Government cancel the 2p-a-litre tax rise planned for October and then cut duty further.
You can join our crusade by filling in today’s coupon at the bottom of the facing page.
Conservatives said the figures showed the emptiness of ministers’ insistence that the international oil price problem is to blame.
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Philip Hammond said: “Gordon Brown’s claim that world oil prices are to blame has been exposed as a sham.
“The blame lies squarely with him – and because his Government has run out of money, instead of helping hard-pressed motorists he is hitting them again with a massive hike in road tax.
“When will he get the message that people have had enough?”
Earlier this week hauliers staged a mass protest in London. And today a string of senior Labour MPs join our call for Mr Brown to “strike a new deal with the motoring public” by cutting duties when oil prices rise.
Statistics comparing British fuel prices with those in the other 26 EU countries were released by Business Secretary John Hutton’s department.
They showed that in April, British diesel before tax was the cheapest among the long-established 15 EU member states of western Europe and second cheapest among all 27, with only Bulgaria having cheaper fuel before tax.
But the figures for tax and pump prices since April made the fuel more expensive to buy in Britain than anywhere else, at 116.6p per litre – 30.1p higher than Europe’s lowest price, which was Cyprus with 86.5p.
Britain’s tax component on diesel was also the highest in the EU, at 58 per cent of the total price compared to a range of between 37 and 52 per cent in the rest of the EU.
Britain also had the second cheapest unleaded petrol in western Europe. But tax pushed our costs right up the league table.
A Treasury spokesman insisted: “Comparisons of individual taxes and duty rates with other nations can provide a distorted picture and should be seen in the wider context.”
He said the UK had lower taxes on labour than many other EU nations, the lowest corporation tax rate in the G7 industrialised nations and one of the lowest VAT rates in Europe.
“However, the Government understands that businesses and families are feeling the pressure from high fuel prices and therefore the Budget announced that the 2p per litre increase scheduled for April would be deferred until
October,” he added.
Blairite think tank Progress yesterday warned Mr Brown not to abandon Middle Britain in a desperate search for economic recovery.
And former roads minister Stephen Ladyman called for a new “duty moderator” that would allow reductions when high prices at the pump boosted the Treasury’s VAT take.
Measures being announced today to help the elderly and vulnerable groups save on heating bills include a scheme for grants of up to £4,000 to provide insulation for 3,000 homes.
** What do you think of the Government’s inability to tackle fuel prices? Have YOUR say now! **
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REPLY TO EMPERORMING
31.05.08, 4:18am
It is refreshing to see that someone in the UK is aware that most of the blame for the economic woes of the UK and USA should be laid at the feet of Blair and that poor mans John Wayne also known as George Bush. As you remark Blair saw the s--t about to hit the fan and bolted, at least it removed his unbelievable wife from from view a little.However I am sure that if Cameron and the Tories were in power it would be exactly the same situation. As a Btit who has lived in the USA for 30 yearsI have come to realise that politicians the world over are all the same. They will say anything to get elected and then carry on just as before. However nearly the whole world is being held to ransom by OPEC and not only the UK is paying high prices, I bet your saying we are only paying $4 plus per gallon right now, but a US gallon is only 80% of UK gallon and people here dont have free health care and a welfare state that makes sure the hardest hit have a lifreline.I know many Americans who would pay your high prices for oetrol to have free health care and your safeguards and dont forget we all pay taxes, social scurity, medicare etc,etc,etc.
• Posted by: trubbrit1 • Report Comment
FUEL POVERTY
30.05.08, 11:51pm
"Whitehall data on people with low incomes is set to be shared with energy companies so they can be offered better deals. " Stupid proposal, it's against the data protection act for a reason.
I mean should your health records be shared with traffic wardens so they know you are disabled rather than use the disabled badge? Just issue people with some cash for fuel. Really, handing our personal data to some Energy Da France (EDF) and letting them carry out government benefits duties is just insane.
It looks like the government are milking this crisis to make it even worse.
• Posted by: Wayland • Report Comment
NOT SURPRISING REALLY
30.05.08, 7:19pm
We also have the worst Prime Minister in Europe.
• Posted by: Camerton • Report Comment
WE PAY HIGHEST TAX ON FUEL IN EUROPE
30.05.08, 5:50pm
Of course we do. The money is needed to fund Bliars Illegal Warmongering in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He cut and ran when he realised that the British public would dash his Ego by voting him and his party out .
We the British Joe Public are now picking up the costs , however his Parliamentary conspirators are ALL laughing all the way to the Bank because their trough is Platinum Plated and they are shielded from the spiralling costs that we are now having to contend with.
The Sky High Oil costs are directly a result of the Arabic Muslim World kicking back at us for Bliar and Bush's Warmongering and Foreign Policy.
• Posted by: EmperorMing • Report Comment
WE'VE BEEN RIPPED OF
30.05.08, 2:40pm
for years by the banks, petrol companies and utilities with the government being the biggest scammer of all. In spite of all the regulators, watchdogs, committees, think tanks and useless Quangos we were told that it was the free market working.
Only a couple of months ago Sneaky Brown was asked in the commons about the hikes in electricity costs; answering, he said it was a supply and demand free market and not a lot the government could do.
Now the chickens are coming to roost...and UK PLC
really is in ssh..t street....
• Posted by: TicToc • Report Comment
READERS NOT ALREADY SUFFIENTLY OUTRAGED . . .
30.05.08, 1:00pm
might review the list of stealth taxes at
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/garbagegate/item2/stealth.htm
CAUTION: May lead to elevated blood pressure.
• Posted by: Promontory • Report Comment
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