RURAL drivers would suffer a “hammer blow” if Rachel Reeves hikes fuel duty in the Budget, campaigners have warned.
Research shows they spend almost £800 more each year on petrol than those in urban areas.
The Countryside Alliance group has written to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget demanding pump levies are frozen and the 5p cut remains in place.
They say: “Pressure on rural communities’ finances remains, and so we would argue that now is not the time to let the cut lapse.”
Organisation boss Tim Bonner added: “Cars are an absolute lifeline for rural communities.
“The Government needs to spare a thought for people outside cities who can’t rely on public transport, which in many cases isn’t even an option.
“A fuel duty hike would be a hammer blow at a time when many rural people are already struggling”
Fuel duty has been frozen since 2011 and The Sun’s Keep It Down campaign is calling for another year of held rates.
Ms Reeves is under pressure to honour her pledge to protect “working people” who use their cars to travel to work every day.
