Priti Patel calls for Jeremy Hunt to CUT fuel duty ahead of Budget

PRITI Patel piled pressure on Jeremy Hunt to CUT fuel duty to help hard-up motorists to boost Britain’s economy.

The former Home Secretary called on the Chancellor to “go further” where the Government has extra headroom to slash eye-watering fuel taxes and create growth.

Peter Jordan

Priti Patel leads MPs and campaigners as they hand in a petition begging Jeremy Hunt not to raise fuel duty[/caption]

The Senior Tory MP warned that rural parts of the country would be hit hardest by the whack.

The Treasury is set to raise fuel duty by 12p a litre from April unless Mr Hunt steps in, as the 5p cut comes to an end.

The Sun’s Keep it Down campaign has forced ministers to freeze duties for 12 years in a row.

Ms Patel said: “We have to be the Government on the side of hard-pressed motorists, who are really feeling the pinch right now.

“We should be going further – where the Government has the head room, cut fuel duty.

“We need to put more money back into the purses and wallets of the Great British Motorist and do everything we can to support them.

“You can only grow the economy by putting more money back into people’s pockets, not by taking money out of them with higher taxes.”

It came as MPs and campaigners handed in a 130,000-strong FairFuel UK petition of Brits begging the Chancellor not to hike duties in his Budget next week.

PA

Jonathan Gullis, Priti Patel and Craig Mackinlay in Downing Street today[/caption]

Ms Patel was joined by MPs including fellow Tories Jonathan Gullis and Craig Mackinlay, and the DUP’s Sammy Wilson as they descended on Downing Street last night.

Mr Gullis added: “I’m proud to be working to back Sun readers and FairFuel UK in demanding we keep the 5p cut.

“The 37million people who rely on their cars day in, day out shouldn’t be punished any further in their pockets.”

Thousands of small businesses fear layoffs if he goes ahead with the hike in duty.