The British Government has been challenge not to fully implement an EU Directive which could see increased fuel costs for 50,000 motorists in Northern Ireland.
East Derry DUP MP Gregory Campbell said he was working on the issue in the House of Commons jointly with his party’s MEP Diane Dodds.
Mr Campbell, DUP spokesperson on International Development and Culture, Media and Sport, said the implementation of the EU Directive would place “further burden” on “hard-pressed” households.
He said: “Homes are struggling and it’s already exceptionally expensive to fuel our vehicles.
“Between a retailer’s margin, VAT and Fuel Duty the actual price of the fuel is already over inflated.
“The implementation of this EU directive will simply place a further burden upon hard-pressed households.
“The DUP is a low tax party and we want to ease the burden on people.”
Mr Campbell said he was aware of cases where fuel costs were leading to young people having to quit their “dream jobs” and were accepting lower paid jobs closer to their homes.
He added people who live in rural areas of the North were finding it “really difficult” to afford to commute anymore.
He added: “Rather than compounding this problem the Government must take steps to ensure that fuel are costs are reduced. The idea that as a result of Brussels bureaucrats, 1.5 million drivers in the UK will have to pay £260 million more to travel the same distance is ridiculous. ”
Mr Campbell concluded: “This will mean about 50,000 drivers here in Northern Ireland being disadvantaged. Our MEP Diane Dodds and I will be working jointly in the House of Commons to get a resolution which will not cost Northern Ireland motorists more money.”
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