MP welcomes Kirkby fuel cut but keeps pushing for more rural areas to be covered

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed the news that Kirkby-in-Furness is a step closer to a five pence per litre cut in fuel duty. This is another step forward in Tim's long running campaign to cut fuel prices in our area.

17 of the UK's most rural communities are a step closer to getting up to a 5p per litre fuel price cut after the government's rural fuel rebate scheme cleared the major hurdle of European Commission approval today.

The scheme will allow 125,000 people living in selected areas, who currently face some of the highest fuel prices in the country despite depending on cars for transport, to benefit from cheaper fuel. Some local areas are amongst those selected for a fuel duty cut - Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales and Kirkby-in-Furness in Cumbria. Tim has pledged to keep campaigning for a fuel duty cut for other parts of our area.

He has previously written to the Chancellor and lobbied the Prime Minister on the issue and asked them to make sure Cumbria is further involved in any future scheme. Tim has previously proposed a derogation scheme for the county which would cut petrol by 5p a litre at all of Cumbria's forecourts.

Tim said: "For the last four years I have fought to try and cut fuel prices for people in Cumbria. Today's announcement is welcome for residents in Kirkby in Furness but we need to go even further and widen the area available for a 5p cut. I will keep working to make that happen. I have told the Government that in rural areas like ours a car is not a luxury, it is a necessity and people need more help. I believe that the best way to do that is to bring in a wider fuel derogation scheme that would cut prices at the pump by 5p across South Lakeland and Eden."