Labour has been accused of hypocrisy after calling for action on rocketing petrol prices, despite refusing to support The Courier’s campaign for fairer fuel.
Scottish party leader Iain Gray, shadow chancellor Ed Balls and shadow Scottish secretary Ann McKechin called on Chancellor George Osborne to cut the VAT increase on fuel and re-think plans for a rise in duty.
They were speaking ahead of a Labour-led opposition day debate on the issue at Westminster today, but the move was dismissed by the SNP, which said Labour has a “track record” of increasing fuel taxes.
Mr Gray said, “Scotland’s motorists have been hit particularly hard by the rising costs of fuel, and I am fully behind Labour’s call to the UK Government to look again at this issue.
“Only Labour has the clout…to stand up to the Tory-led Government, and we intend to use this advantage to continue to fight for what really matters to hard-working Scots.”
Ms McKechin added, “George Osborne needs to sit up and listen to Labour’s message that the government could provide immediate help with controlling the soaring cost of petrol prices by cutting the VAT hike on fuel and looking again at the fuel duty rise.”
The Courier has been fighting for a fairer deal on fuel by calling on the Conservative-led coalition to fulfil its pre-election pledge to establish a fuel duty regulator.
Last week petition coupons signed by more than 10,000 readers were handed in to Downing Street.
The call for action was backed by the Scottish Lib Dems, the Scottish Tories and the SNP.
However, the Labour Party withheld its backing as they are opposed to a duty regulator.
The party also refused to support a Scottish Parliament motion calling for a regulator as part of wider action on fuel prices.
Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said he was “disappointed” Labour had not joined with the other parties at Holyrood to present a united front on fuel prices to Westminster.
“The SNP has a track record of fighting for fair fuel prices,” he said.
“Labour has a track record of increasing fuel taxes.
“There is a massive fault-line between the SNP and Labour on this issue and the SNP’s position cannot be clearer the fuel duty increase must be scrapped and a fuel duty regulator introduced as promised.
“I was very disappointed Labour didn’t get behind The Courier’s campaign in the way the entire Scottish Government cabinet did.
“Their suggested solution won’t fool anyone since it fails to address the issue of increasing oil prices which would wipe out any benefits that may occur and wouldn’t make any difference to businesses who can recoup the VAT anyway.
“Nor does it address the fundamental issue that the VAT increase should be abolished across the board by simply applying it to fuel they have opened themselves up to ridicule as it would be illegal.”
Fuel prices have continued to rise since The Courier launched the fairer fuel campaign in January, with the recent spike in oil prices linked to the Libyan crisis.
Motorists have been hit by a combination of rising oil prices, increases in fuel duty and VAT going up to 20% in recent months, with a litre of petrol now costing more than £1.50 in some rural parts of Scotland.
Lib Dem transport spokeswoman Alison McInnes said Labour had “turned up late to the party” on the issue.
“Instead of opposing the efforts made by the other Scottish parties, Labour could have joined us and spoken with one voice to lobby the coalition government to drop the proposed increase in fuel duty,” said the North East MSP.
“The coalition government has been working to address the high cost of fuel they have done far more in 10 months than Labour did in 13 years in power in Westminster.”