A RISE in fuel duty of 3p in January will hit people in Ellesmere Port and Neston hard, says MP Andrew Miller.

Mr Miller is calling on the Chancellor George Osbourne to cancel the Government’s planned petrol tax rise, intended to come into force on January 1.

Mr Miller said as well as helping people on low and middle incomes, stopping the petrol tax rise would also help businesses and the flatlining economy.

He said: “At a time when the cost of living is rising and our recovery is fragile it cannot be right to hit middle and low-income families and small businesses with another tax rise.

“The price of petrol is now more than £1.36 a litre, a massive rise of 15p since the Tories came to power.

“People in Ellesmere Port and Neston are really feeling the squeeze from the Government’s VAT rise – which has added 3p to the price of a litre of petrol – and deep cuts to things like tax credits.

“So delaying January’s fuel duty rise, at least until April, would provide some much-needed financial relief.”

He added: “It’s really disappointing that Tory and Lib Dem MPs voted in the House of Commons against our plan to stop the new year fuel duty hike. But I will keep urging the Government to change their minds and not hit local families and businesses so hard at this very difficult time for our economy.”