PeteBrant

BBC NEWS | Politics | Brown defends fuel duty decision

Not sure why the Tories are complaining about it - Who cares if its to do with a by-election, As long as it doesn't go on, I don't care what the reasoning is.

It will be swallowed up by increases in the next week or so anyway

SiPie

Thought you were talking about the Buffalo Sprigfield song

YouTube - Buffalo Springfield "For What It's Worth"

Leslie

I think that they see it as an attempt to increase votes at the by election and also compared with the vast increases we have seen recently and compared with the enormous extra amount of tax taken by the government due to the oil price rises, that the 2p is a drop in the ocean and has been done purely for political reasons for the government's sake Pete.

Les

PeteBrant

Right, so what are they saying, that they would rather the Government didn't defer the 2p rise?

The cost of oil is outside of government control, fuel duty, is not.

Leslie

Yes of course, but they have made a lot of extra cash because of the price increases and not passed it on to us.

I imagine that the fuss if they had actually imposed the 2p increase would have been at least as big.

Les

PeteBrant

Indeed, it was virtually impossible to them to introduce the 2p hike, which is why I can't work out why the Tories are trying to score political points from it.

But the increased VAT take is passed to us indirectly - I mean it's not like they spend it on **** or something.

Leslie

Not surprised they are making a meal of it. Its the same both ways Pete, any opportunity as ever.

I don't know what they do with the increased VAT take, its another snidy tax as far as I can see.

Les