HARLOW MP Robert Halfon this week challenged the Government to drive down "artificially high" petrol and diesel costs to give cash-strapped motorists a fair deal on fuel.
On Tuesday the Conservative backbencher led a debate in the House of Commons on what he dubbed the "Great British petrol rip-off".
He called for planned rises in fuel duty to be scrapped and suggested that a new commission be set up to investigate why pump prices contin¬ue to rise despite the falling cost of oil.
Mr Halfon, who has worked closely with pressure group FairFuel UK and former Top Gear presenter Quentin Wilson on a nationwide campaign against what they say are unfair pump prices, claimed soaring charges meant the average Harlow motorist now spends an average of £1,700 a year on fuel.
Speaking after Tuesday’s debate, he told the Star: "Even the cheapest petrol station in Harlow is charging 133p per litre. This means Harlow families now pour at least £63m worth of petrol into their cars and vans every year, of which about £40m is tax.
"That is the story of Harlow, a town held to ransom by petrol prices. But across the country we see the same tragedy."
He added: "I made the case in the strongest possible terms that there should be no more rises in fuel duty during the rest of this Parliament, a key aim in the FairFuelUK campaign."
Mr Halfon also wants the Government to setsup a commission into why fuel prices at the pump are still far too high despite oil falling on the international markets and to examine alternatives to rising fuel duty.
Peter Carroll, of FairFuelUK, said motorists and businesses were "rightly furious" with soaring pump prices.
"FairFuelUK strongly supports the call by Mr Halfon that the Government should commit to no more rises at all in fuel duty in this Parliament," he added.
"Nearly every MP present at the debate agreed with the call for more transparency in the market so that hard pressed motorists and business¬es can see who is taking what out of the price of a litre.
"The plan is currently that fuel duty will rise in January. We have to stop that rise."
For more information on the FairFuelUK campaign, visit www.fairfueluk.com.
