Belfast News: NI Petrol Prices

It would appear that the coalition government's New Year's Resolution is to rob the motorist with the 1st January seeing almost a penny added to petrol prices and an additional rise equivalent to 3p added by January 4th.

Most petrol stations (accurate at time of publishing) across Belfast are currently charging 129.9pence a litre for unleaded with diesel prices slightly higher. However it did not go un-noted by Belfast motorists that some petrol stations advertised their price increases many hours before the duty hike and as such appear to have profited from the misfortune of motorists. 

It surprises many that the price of fuel roughly breaks down as follows: Two thirds approximately (80p) is tax (60p duty, 20p VAT) and that VAT is added on to the end price rather than the product price, which means the motorist is being taxed on the tax.

With some analysts indicating that oil is set to surpass $100 a barrel and reach up to $200 a barrel, the motorist is set for another double hit as the government is set to increase petrol duty once again by 4 or 5p on the 1st April.

Businesses, public bodies such as the Consumer Council and the public have complained about the pain of this rise and questioned the logic of pricing motorists off the road and driving businesses to bankruptcy, for non-drivers do not pay petrol duty and bankrupt businesses do not pay tax.

Will the Northern Ireland Executive do anything to drive fuel prices down, which is the plea of the Consumer Council who have called for the introduction of a 'Fuel Price Stabiliser'. Without imaginative solutions from the NI Executive, many NI businesses could be lost and may drivers taxed off the road. Idol hands may do the devil's work but the public will not be so ready to provide a fool's pardon to our Assembly and now expect to see positive action before the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections.

The bottom line is that bankrupt businesses and bankrupt people do not pay tax or duty and that perhaps it is time for the Northern Ireland public to stand united against the current rip-off and state with absolute resolve: 'NOT ONE PENNY MORE'

Created: 8th January 2011