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Fuel for thought

17th May 2001, Page 9
17th May 2001
Page 9
Page 9, 17th May 2001 — Fuel for thought
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

It's crunch time. With the general election just three weeks away the contenders are all falling over themselves to tell us about their plans for fuel tax, congestion, road building and public transport.

Particularly interesting, of course, are their respective positions on fuel. A relatively minor contender like the UK Independent Party cannot really hope to be elected on the strength of its promise of a 9p/litre cut in fuel duty. But William Hague's offer of 6p off a litre is different.

The Tories, while still behind, are surely the only party that realistically could still take a second term of government away from Labour And given the massive public support for last year's fuel protests from a nation whose motorists continue to feel ripped off every time they fill up, who's to say this couldn't turn out to be the pivotal issue?

It has become all the more interesting, then, to see just what inducements are contained in the Labour manifesto this week. Will the government take the opportunity to promise a further cut in fuel duty, just to make sure it doesn't become too damaging an issue?

Or will it pig-headedly continue with its assertion that fuel tax in Britain is now at an appropriate level, and risk enraging hauliers and half the rest of the population in the process?

The smart move, of course, would be to promise a cut of three or four pence a litre in the next Budget: big enough to please those to whom fuel is a critical issue; little enough to avoid too much loss of revenue—or face—for the Labour Party.

Besides, anything less could cost Blair the election.

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People: William Hague, Blair

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