Fuel duty petition delivered to Downing Street

TV presenter Quentin Wilson was among those who delivered the 120,000 signature petition yesterday, the first in a wave being organised by the motoring and haulage group which also wants action to bring in a fuel duty stabiliser.

It came after the AA said this week that average petrol prices have passed 130p a litre for the first time, taking record prices to an average of 130.03p a litre – only 2p away from the £6 gallon. Diesel is averaging 135.44p a litre.

Today research warns that fuel prices and cuts to public services are the most likely source of protest in Britain.

More than half of Britons, 52 per cent, said they were prepared to take action about fuel prices, followed by 47 per cent who said they would protest about axeing of public services in areas such as health and libraries.

The online survey of 2,003 people, carried out last month for Theos, the public theology think-tank, showed 35 per cent said they were willing to take action over bankers’ bonuses.

Only two per cent said they had taken part in a public demonstration in the last year but 29 per cent said they would consider it now.

Chancellor George Osborne faces increasing pressure to cancel the 1p duty rise in April in his budget on March 23.

Last month Mr Osborne repeated his pledge to examine the option and said the Government continued to look into the introduction of a stabiliser mechanism to iron out big price fluctuations.

The Chancellor invited public suggestions on dealing with fuel prices to be submitted via the Treasury’s website to go “direct to the desks” of budget officials.

Tory MPs are among those who have pressed the Government to fulfill the manifesto pledge of a fuel duty stabiliser, which would cut petrol duty taken by the Treasury when oil prices are high.

Ministers have also held up the prospect of a 5p per litre fuel discount for isolated rural areas as a way of helping people reliant on their own transport and where fuel is often more expensive. Subject to approval from Europe, the scheme could be trialled in the Scottish highlands. Yorkshire MPs want other areas included.