Debt may be driven down by rural petrol change

Motorists living in rural areas need more help from the government than currently forthcoming, it has been claimed.

The government has announced it is cutting 5p a litre off fuel duty in the most remote parts of Britain, but rural insurer NFU mutual has said this is not enough, as many parts of the countryside will be excluded from this measure.

Spokesman Tim Price said: “By giving welcome – but limited – support to remote areas of Scotland and the Isles of Scilly, the government is barely scratching the surface of a problem which is crippling the countryside.”

He argued that problems such as higher petrol prices than in urban areas, longer journey distances and a lack of public transport are problems in lots or rural districts, “not just those selected by the government”.

And he called on chancellor George Osborne to do more to help drivers living in the countryside when he delivers his Budget later this month.

Mr Osborne’s speech may well contain some movement on fuel taxation and this could help those who are struggling with debt while trying to manage to run a car in the countryside.

A poll last week by Unbiased.co.uk found fuel duty topped the list of the taxes people would most like to see abolished, which may reflect the current concerns of drivers with debts who have been facing rising prices.

It was nominated by one-in-five people, while getting rid of council tax was a close second on 19 per cent.

Chief executive of the website Karen Barrett said this showed motorists are becoming “increasingly irritated” by fuel prices.

By Joe White