'Send George Osborne a postcard from the Lakes, telling him to stop the Fuel Tax Rise' - Farron

Local MP Tim Farron has today written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling on him to axe the planned 3p fuel duty rise in his Autumn Statement in early December. But Tim's message wasn't written on House of Commons paper, it was written on a Lake District postcard!

Tim is calling on local people to join him in sending the Chancellor a postcard of a local Lake District or Cumbrian Yorkshire Dales scene, reminding him that it is much more expensive to travel around rural areas like ours.

The Autumn Statement will be made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, on Wednesday 5 December at 12.30pm. Tim has asked the Chancellor to scrap his proposed 3p rise in fuel duty. Earlier this year, Tim was one of the MPs who proposed a motion calling on the Government to cut fuel duty, which places an unfair burden particularly on those in rural areas who rely on their cars much more than those in urban areas.

Tim has also proposed a fuel derogation scheme for Cumbria. This scheme could cut the cost at the pump by 5p for Cumbrians. The scheme is already exists for the Highland and Islands and in the Isles of Scilly. And in August the Prime Minister said he wanted to bring forward proposals for a fuel duty discount scheme for people living in rural Yorkshire. The pilot will help people in remote countryside communities who are struggling with sky-high petrol prices.

Commenting, Tim said; "High fuel prices are causing real hardship in South Lakeland. I think we need to help hard pressed local families and businesses and the best way of doing that is cutting the cost of fuel. I am calling on the Chancellor to do this in his Autumn Statement and help us in the South Lakes."

"In rural areas like ours a car isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. So from now until the Autumn Statement I will be pressing Treasury ministers to seriously look at this plan and make sure we provide relief to as many people as possible."