Fuel Increase
In November 2022, Jeremy Hunt published his first autumn statement as chancellor. The proposal outlined steps to fill the £50 billion hole in the UK’s finances, and sees the public picking up the tab for the government’s public spending.
What Hunt failed to mention in his address was the plan to increase Fuel Duty by 23%. This would add 12 pence to every litre of petrol, forcing more pressure on motorists.
Snuck away in the @OBR_UK #autumnstatement2022 report is a bombshell. Needless to say, I’m loading both barrels to fight this tooth & nail
A sneaky 23% rise in Fuel Duty is planned from March 2023@pritipatel @cmackinlay @johnredwood @TheABD @jkyleofficial @Iromg @TiceRichard pic.twitter.com/ND0F4tk4fG
— Howard Cox (@HowardCCox) November 17, 2022
The construction industry is already on a knife-edge when it comes to energy and fuel use. April 2022 marked the end to low priced red diesel, which increased fuel costs for thousands.
Some MP’s are refusing to support tax increases outlined in the budget until vanity projects such as HS2 are scrapped. The high-speed rail development is projected to cost double the original estimate, and if cancelled will balance the books. However, HS2 is currently supporting 29,000 jobs across the country, which will be at risk if the project is scaled back.
Jeremy Hunt has since denied the Fuel Duty increase will go ahead.
ULEZ Expansion
Motorists are also being targeted in Greater London with the expansion of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone. Sadiq Khan recently announced his plans to improve air quality in and around the Capital by restricting the movement of 300,000 drivers. Vehicles that do not meet the emissions criteria will be subject to a daily charge of £12 to travel into the zone.
Khan has ignored local councils and public response against the expansion. And since the announcement, a number of petitions have been launched to keep ULEZ out of suburban areas.
Research published in November 2021 revealed that nitrogen oxide (NO2) levels in the current ULEZ dropped only 3%, with some areas experiencing an increase in pollution.
New charges for non-complaint vehicles are due to start August 29, 2023.
Tradesman Talk
What will an extra 12p per litre mean for your business? Do you think the ULEZ expansion is justified, or a money-grabbing scheme?
And what about timing? How much more can the public be expected to pay out?
As always, leave your comments below, and click the social links to share this article with your network.
Until next time, make sure it’s Tradesman Saver.
1 Comment
ULEZ is theft, pure and simple, a tax upon those who havent just thrown away their old motor and gone out and bought a new electric one. Those criminals at TfL have no interest in low emissions, and they’d even be gutted if everybody who was due to pay this tax paid up, in full, on time.
That’s right, they have a huge dept based up in NOTTINGHAM processing penalty charges, which was set up in advance of the first zone’s implementation. They NEED motorists to default to balance their books.