AN immediate cut of 10p in fuel duty as part of an emergency transport package ‘to keep Britain moving’ was demanded on Thursday (April 2) by West Somerset MP Rachel Gilmour.

Mrs Gilmour called on the Chancellor to bring forward an emergency package of support to help families, pensioners, and businesses tackle the cost of living crisis in her Tiverton and Minehead constituency.

Her Liberal Democrat party has set out a transport plan with measures including:

• 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 per cent

• Making electric vehicles cheaper to drive by cutting VAT on public charging and reviewing unfair network costs pushing up prices

Mrs Gilmour said the Government should bring in the measures for three months at first, but keep them under review and extend if the crisis dragged on.

She said in rural areas the majority of households relied on a car for travel, so cutting fuel duty would have an outsized impact.

Mrs Gilmour said: “I have spoken to so many families, pensioners, and businesses across Tiverton and Minehead who are worried sick about the skyrocketing costs of getting around, caused by Donald Trump’s idiotic war with Iran and cheered on by Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage.

“We desperately need an emergency transport package to keep Tiverton and Minehead moving, including an immediate cut in fuel duty to bring down prices at the pump.

“We also want to see bus and train fares slashed and electric vehicle charging costs cut, to help everybody across Mid Devon and West Somerset save money, no matter how they travel.

“We cannot afford for the Chancellor to stand back, watch our brilliant communities here struggle, and let Britain’s economy grind to a halt.”