Felix Reeves
Guest Reporter
Experts have demanded that Labour keeps its promise to protect workers in the upcoming Budget amid fears that new car taxes could be introduced and fuel duty benefits could be scrapped.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will unveil Labour's first Budget since they gained power in July later this month, with the Autumn Statement set to ruffle feathers across the country.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has already warned Britons that the Budget will include some tough decisions as the Government looks to claw back £22billion worth of public finances left by the previous Conservative administration.
Experts have written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves to demand that she protects motorists in the upcoming Autumn Statement and not "betray the promise" not to raise taxes on working people.
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Paul Barker, editor of Auto Express, called on the Government to maintain its pledge to fix the state of roads across the country with pothole repairs being the most important issue for 72 per cent of people.
Labour's election manifesto outlined how it would fill in one million more potholes every year to slash repair costs for motorists from damage caused by the poor quality of roads.
It suggested that potholes represented a "visible sign of the decline after 14 years of Conservative rule" and said it would fund the road repairs with money from the deferred A27 bypass.
Labour repeatedly pointed out the issues with potholes during the election, noting how there are more potholes on English roads than there are craters on the moon.
Fuel duty is also a potential opportunity for Labour to increase the amount of public funds available to it. The 5p per litre fuel duty cut was first introduced in 2022 and will expire in March next year.
Experts have suggested that the Government could cut the freeze to save billions of pounds per year, although this would result in more expensive petrol and diesel prices - an important issue for 42 per cent of Britons.
An HM Treasury spokesperson has told GBN that the Chancellor will make "difficult decisions" to fill the funding black hole. It added: "Decisions on how to do that will be taken at the Budget in the round."
In response, Barker said: "We’ve also pointed out the likelihood of Labour being punished in future polls if the Government attempts to excuse fuel duty or Vehicle Excise Duty (VED/road tax) hikes by citing unpopular and unrealistic green targets, or justifies rises as levers pushing drivers towards EVs that many can’t afford."
The expert has also called on the MP for Leeds West and Pudsey to focus on "increasing the threshold for the £410 'expensive car' tax on EVs". This is applied to any vehicle with a list price above £40,000.
From the new financial year in April next year, electric car drivers will be required to start paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) from the standard rate, which for new EVs would set drivers back £190.
Other important issues for motorists include car crime (31 per cent), EV purchase incentives/tax benefits (26 per cent), more EV chargers (25 per cent) and a move towards net zero (14 per cent).
Barker concluded his letter to the Chancellor, saying: "It’s time for the Government to respond to drivers’ priorities.
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"That means making significant investments in road infrastructure and ensuring effective police action against car crime, while staying true to their manifesto promise not to raise taxes on working people.
"This is not the moment to tighten the screws on drivers who are still reeling from the cost of living crisis and struggling to make ends meet."
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