Sean Houlston, along with the Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch, has warned that planned increases in fuel tax will disproportionately impact rural communities, farmers and the wider rural economy.
Rural households are significantly more reliant on cars due to limited public transport options, leaving them more exposed to rising fuel costs.
Farming communities are especially at risk due to Labour’s planned increase in red diesel duty - widely used in farming. The changes mean that by March 2027 farmers will see an approximate 10 per cent rise, representing a substantial increase for those already facing the rising cost of fertiliser and the forthcoming Family Farm Tax.
The Conservative action plan on crime will also crack down on rural crime which plagues our rural communities.
Many have already seen heating oil prices which have seen a massive price spike due to the volatile global situation.
Sean Houlston said:
“Labour don’t get rural communities. If they did, they would never have introduced the hated Family Farm Tax which the Conservatives have promised to overturn as soon as we are back in Government.
“Now - just when the cost of fuel and other agricultural commodity prices are on the rise - they are set on pushing up taxes on red diesel. Farmers cannot afford to pay nearly ten per cent more tax on their fuel.
“The Conservative Party is calling on the Government to scrap the planned rise in Fuel Duty and take immediate action to support households across the country by implementing our Cheap Power Plan which will take 20 per cent off of electricity bills.”
Kemi Badenoch MP, Leader of the Conservative Party, said:
“Labour don’t get rural communities. If they did, they would never have introduced the hated Family Farm Tax which Conservatives have promised to overturn as soon as we are back in Government.
“Now - just when the cost of fuel and other agricultural commodity prices are on the rise - they are set on pushing up taxes on red diesel. Farmers cannot afford to pay nearly ten per cent more tax on their fuel.
“Conservatives are calling on the Government to back farming and axe the fuel tax rise now. Rural communities rely on their cars so it’s time to end the war on motorists and get Britain working again”
Victoria Atkins MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said:
“As food prices continue to rise for us all and with record numbers of farms closing, this government must stop piling more and more taxes on food producers.
"In these volatile times, we need our farmers growing food, not worrying about Labour’s record taxes. Labour’s time in government has already damaged the rural economy but this further tax hike will mean higher food prices for us all and rural transport costs. Labour must axe the fuel tax rise now.”
“The Conservative Party is calling on the Government to scrap the planned rise in Fuel Duty and take immediate action to support households across the country by implementing our Cheap Power Plan which will take 20 per cent off of electricity bills.
“The Conservatives also have a plan to Scrap the Family Farm tax and clamp down on rural crime and agricultural theft by recruiting 10,000 more police officers to further support rural communities across the country”.
