Davey: Vote Liberal Democrat to cut your taxes

Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, has today thrown down the gauntlet to his political opponents, calling for immediate relief for struggling households and delivering a direct message to voters: Vote Liberal Democrat to cut your taxes.

Ahead of his keynote conference speech on Tuesday, where he will set out further plans to ease the cost of living, the party is calling on the Chancellor to immediately cut fuel duty, reducing prices at the pump by 12p a litre, until at least Christmas and to cancel the planned duty increase in January.

The party’s proposals would also see bus and train fares slashed and electric vehicle charging costs cut, to provide instant relief to millions as families face an ongoing cost of living crisis driven by years of record-high taxation under successive Conservative and Labour governments.

 Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats said:

"The cost-of-living crisis is ripping through families across Britain. For years, millions of people put up with Conservative incompetence because they hoped that at least their tax bill might go down. Now, people have been left high and dry by a Labour government continuing the same tax-and-spend doom loop.

"My message to voters across the country who feel politically homeless is simple: take a look at us. We agree with you on the big issues like taking responsibility for tackling climate change, protecting our basic rights, and championing British traditions. Crucially, we are now the only party with a proper plan to bear down on costs facing host households, grow our economy and end this fiscal crisis.

"Donald Trump’s idiotic war with Iran – cheered on by Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage – is making it far more expensive for people to get around. Families are paying more at the pump because of a war they didn’t start and don’t support.

With global economic volatility and Trumpflation sending costs soaring once again, Brits cannot afford more drift. By cutting fuel duty by 10p today, Liberal Democrats are taking the first concrete step to lower your tax burden and put money back in your pocket."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a bold new transport plan to “keep Britain moving and tackle the cost-of-living crisis”, initially for three months and extended if necessary:

• Cutting fuel duty by 10p, bringing down prices at the pump by 12p per litre.
• Slashing bus fares to £1, from the current £3 cap.
• Cutting rail fares by 10%.
• Making it cheaper to drive electric vehicles, by cutting VAT on public charging and reviewing the unfair network costs that push up charging prices.

The party is also calling on the government to cancel the planned 3p (3.6p at the pump) fuel duty rise in January, given how high fuel prices are.