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The letter below was issued in response to an extraordinarily
blatent case of the Lib Dem MP being economical with the truth:
in the Southern Reporter and Berwickshire News, 11 September 2008
Dear Editor,
In your issue of 4th September, the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP
claimed: "at the end of the last parliamentary term, my Liberal
Democrat colleagues and I put forward the idea of a rural fuel
discount". Unfortunately, only part of this was true.
In debate on the UK Budget's Finance Bill, SNP and Plaid Cymru
MPs moved an amendment to create a Fuel Duty Regulator to balance
fuel duty and VAT on fuel to ensure price stability, when oil prices
rise above those assumed in Treasury forecasts. It would prevent the
Chancellor enjoying a windfall at drivers' expense. The Regulator
concept had cross-industry backing from the Road Haulage
Association, NFU Scotland, Scottish Taxi Federation, Scottish
Fishermen's Federation, and Federation of Small Businesses.
All SNP MPs voted for the Regulator, but it was defeated. All SNP
MPs also supported Lord Thurso's proposals for a reduction in fuel
duty for remote rural filling stations, which mirrored a similar
motion moved by the SNP's Alasdair Allan MSP, on 28th May in the
Scottish Parliament.
Hansard, the official record of Westminster proceedings,
indicates that not only did Michael Moore fail even to attempt to
speak in the debate, to voice the concerns of those here, but he
didn't even manage to make it to vote to support either the SNP
proposals or those of his colleague.
Perhaps this was because, when the debate was held on the 2nd
July, Mr Moore was too busy to participate. He was helping mop up
the mess after his leader in Scotland resigned. It would appear this
was, for him, more important than trying to secure lower fuel duty
within the Borders and elsewhere in Scotland.
As with his performance in abstaining on key amendments to
legislation to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, to remove fisheries as an
"exclusive competence" of the EU, and his unflinching support for
the Treaty itself, again my Lib Dem opponent appears to have failed
his constituents.
No MP can make it to every single vote. However, this was a key
vote for the Borders. He is absolutely correct that exorbitant
levels of fuel duty are causing significant pain to Borders
residents. On that we do agree, but I can't agree with his attempt,
late in the day, to portray himself as a champion of the rural
motorist and businesses on the issue of fuel duty.
It is scandalous that in oil rich Scotland residents and
employers in key sectors are struggling to fill their tanks. A Fuel
Duty Regulator would have made a significant difference. Not for the
first time, Borderers have been let down by the Lib Dems. We will
not let them get away with it.
Yours faithfully
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate,
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
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