STOP DITHERING, START DELIVERING SNP DEMAND ON FUEL PRICES

For immediate use: Monday 17 January 2010



Attn: NEWSDESKS


POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS


CONDEMS FUEL ACTION FAILURE HINDERING RECOVERY


The SNP have stepped up demands on the Tories and LibDems to honour their pre-election promises and cut fuel duty after Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander said his department would not ¬‘sacrifice income willy nilly’ to help out motorists.


SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said the Lib Dem Minister’s comments would infuriate motorists in Scotland and warned that a failure to act on soaring fuel prices was hindering economic recovery.


The SNP has launched a new campaign leaflet highlighting the SNP support for a fuel duty stabiliser to be introduced by Westminster or for powers over fuel duty to be transferred to the Scottish Parliament. It will also highlight how the SNP has been the only party to consistently support hard pressed families and businesses against unreasonable rises in fuel costs.


Mr Hosie said:


“As a Highland MP, Danny Alexander’s dismissal of action to bring down fuel costs is another disgraceful betrayal by the LibDems of one of their key pre-election promises.


“The country is crying out for action but the ConDems are stalling, and Labour oppose the introduction of a fair fuel stabiliser, but people in Scotland can put their foot on the accelerator by supporting the SNP.


“At the last Westminster election the Tories and LibDems promised action on sky high fuel taxes but have failed to deliver, that is why this is going to be a key campaign issue for the SNP at the Scottish general election in May.

“The SNP has consistently argued for a fuel stabiliser to bring prices down and help businesses and families.

“Businesses cannot afford to be kept hanging on by the Tories. The UK Government should commit to scrapping the duty and introducing a stabiliser now and the SNP will be putting the pressure on them to do just that.


“The country is crying-out for action to bring down fuel prices, and no issue better shows why the Scottish Parliament needs the economic and financial tools to act in the interests of our communities and the travelling public. Westminster, where the powers currently lie, has

failed to do anything, and the Tories and Lib Dems have reneged on their pre-election promises.


“This is a huge issue on the doorstep and the forecourts – and the SNP will make it a big issue in the election. It is a key illustration of why we need to build up Scotland’s Parliament, and equip it with the full powers of financial responsibility.”


ENDS


Notes


The campaign leaflet features an image of a fuel pump which states:


"PUMPING UP PRICES. YET ANOTHER TORY STING."


And then goes on to say:


"The UK Government’s hikes in fuel duty and VAT are putting real pressure on the budgets of Scotland’s motorists and households.


"Scotland is the most oil rich nation in Europe, yet Scots are now paying among the highest fuel prices in Europe and more than ever before.


"More expensive fuel means more expensive goods in our shops. At what is a difficult time for families and businesses, the SNP is working to lower bills through the Council Tax freeze, Small Business Bonus, and abolishing prescription charges.


"Rising oil prices are putting extra revenue into Treasury coffers. We want to see some of that money used to bring fuel prices down, and to keep them stable, through a fuel duty regulator.


"The Tories and Lib Dems promised action before the election, so let's make them deliver now.


"If Westminster will not act, the powers should be passed to the Scottish Parliament so that we can.


"If Scotland had control of fuel duty, the SNP government would introduce a fuel duty regulator to lower prices now."