Unfit To Govern

The Retail Motor Industry Independent Petrol Retailers Association (RMI Petrol) said rises in VAT and fuel duty were forcing up costs at forecourts. It said prices could increase by 3% this month (August) and 8% by the start of 2011.

Back in the summer of 2008 Shadow chancellor George Osborne told the BBC the party was looking at plans to cut fuel duty when oil prices rise and increase it when prices fall. He was reported as saying;

“What this would mean is that when the price of oil goes up, fuel duty comes down to help families, but the quid pro quo is that when the price of oil falls the duty goes up” and  “So government is sharing the pain of rising oil prices, but the government is also sharing the gain when oil prices fall.”

Looks like Osborne and the Conservatives say one thing when in opposition then quietly forget about it when in power.  It’s a shame as it actually looked like a good idea.

Further Reading; Tories propose fuel duty changes     Anger at Looming Fuel Price Rises    George Osborne U-turn on Tory low-fuel pledge