La campagne de The Sun pour maintenir le gel de la taxe sur les carburants a permis d’économiser 100 milliards de livres pour les conducteurs en difficulté financière. Un sondage révèle que 73 % des électeurs soutiennent cette décision, qui devance d’autres mesures budgétaires. Le gel est soutenu par diverses tranches d’âge et partis politiques. Des craintes existaient quant à une hausse de 5p par litre, mais la Chancelière a résisté aux pressions. Les résultats du sondage soulignent l’importance de cette mesure pour les ménages.
According to the spending watchdog, the prolonged effort to maintain a freeze on fuel duty has resulted in savings of £100 billion for drivers facing financial constraints.
In a clear endorsement of this initiative, the decision to keep pump prices unchanged in the recent Budget received overwhelming support from the public.
A significant 73 percent of respondents favored this move, based on a poll regarding Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcements.
This policy even surpassed other major financial commitments, such as the £22.6 billion allocated to the NHS and the compensation for those affected by the contaminated blood scandal, which garnered 72 and 68 percent support, respectively.
The survey, which included 2002 adults, coincided with claims from the Office for Budget Responsibility indicating that the cost to the Treasury for maintaining the freeze from 2010/11 to 2025/26 is projected to reach £100 billion.
However, Saqib Bhatti, a Conservative MP and advocate for motorists, emphasized, “Their analysis highlights the significance of the cuts to fuel duty since 2010, resulting in savings of £100 billion for drivers. If not for the pressure exerted by the Conservatives, FairFuelUK, and various media outlets, the 37 million motorists in Britain would have been adversely affected by a disappointing Budget that has shaken public trust in the Government.”
Concerns had arisen that Chancellor Reeves might undo the 5p per litre reduction and impose an inflation-linked increase, which could potentially raise the cost of filling an average family car by £3.85.
Instead, she resisted the Treasury’s demands, even as she announced £40 billion in tax increases in other areas.
The JL Partners poll conducted for Arden Strategies revealed that support for the fuel duty freeze is strong across all demographics.
Support was particularly high among voters aged 55 to 64, with 83 percent in favor, and 71 percent of those aged 25 to 34 also backing the initiative.
This support transcends political affiliations, with 85 percent of Conservative voters, 71 percent of Labour supporters, and 81 percent of Reform UK adherents agreeing with the policy.
Scarlett Maguire, director at JL Partners, stated, “The public is firmly behind Labour’s commitment to maintain the fuel duty freeze. It emerged as the most popular item in Chancellor Reeves’ inaugural Budget, surpassing the additional funding pledged to the NHS.”
Labour MP Graeme Downie remarked, “In my discussions with small business owners yesterday, there was a clear sense of satisfaction, and it is evident that this decision greatly benefits everyday working people.”
Praising the impact of the campaign against rising fuel duties, Luke Bosdet from the AA commented, “With 70 percent of commutes made by car outside London, increasing to 81 percent in rural areas, it’s clear why the decision to maintain the freeze received such widespread approval. This highlights the vital nature of ongoing advocacy against fuel duty hikes and sends a message for future Budgets. Rising road fuel costs disproportionately affect low-income households already grappling with tight budgets.”
The poll results starkly contrasted with other Budget measures, such as the increase in air passenger duty, which only received 47 percent support, while capital gains tax increases were favored by a mere 6 percent.
A rise in the rate employers pay for National Insurance was similarly unpopular, with more respondents opposing it than supporting it by a margin of 6 percent.
Concerns regarding the nation’s economic growth prospects have driven up government borrowing costs.
Government bond yields experienced fluctuations, but the Chancellor found some relief in avoiding a more significant market downturn.
The yields rose to 4.46 percent, surpassing the previous day’s 4.43 percent, yet still higher than the disorder triggered by Liz Truss’s mini-Budget in 2022, albeit with less dramatic shifts.
Additionally, the Pound regained strength against the dollar, reaching $1.29, while the London stock markets closed on a positive note.
£950 a Day is Justifiable Compensation
Defending the compensation of £950 a day for a senior official tasked with evaluating taxpayer value for money, a government minister stated that this remuneration is justified.
Treasury Secretary Darren Jones supported David Goldstone, a board member of HS2, who is set to chair the newly established Office for Value for Money, where he will typically work just one day per week.
Mr. Jones noted, “In fact, the daily rate for David is quite competitive when benchmarked.”
Mr. Goldstone is expected to serve