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SNP election candidate, Angus Brendan MacNeil, says the rural fuel derogation saves island motorists up to £150 per year, based a weekly tank refill.

 

A 5 pence per litre subsidy was introduced last year to lower the cost of fuel at island pumps.

 

Mr MacNeil said the scheme was “one of the campaign successes of the last parliament.”

 

He added: “In the previous parliament, Labour flatly refused to do anything to help island motorists.  In fact it was worse, Labour made up spurious excuses and insulted people’s intelligence, with frankly daft reasons as to why it could not be done.

 

 

SNP candidate to fight for bigger petrol price subsidy

19 April 2015

“They went even further and constantly increased taxes on motorists oblivious and uncaring about its effects on the islands’ economy.”

 

Mr MacNeil continued: “When the coalition came to power and before they drew up their coalition agreement, I was to the fore in reminding those parties of what they promised in opposition as regards a rural fuel derogation.

 

He “pressed for an early adoption before they started to break their word as we saw most spectacularly in the tuition fees debacle that has destroyed the Liberal Democrats as a serious and credible force in politics not only in Scotland but across the UK.”

 

The SNP hopeful said - if re-elected as a MP - he would “keep pressuring, as I have done in the last year or two, for the rural fuel derogation to rise.”

 

He said the budget set aside for the scheme is underspent yet islanders are still paying more tax per litre in the island than the UK average.

 

He said: “I will work constructively, as usual, with other MPs across the UK in island and rural areas to achieve this.

 

“I am grateful for the support I have had from island retailers who tell me that the rural fuel derogation has been a helpful part of reducing prices at the pump."