March 25, 2022 8.00 am This story is over 24 months old

Lincolnshire still getting ‘ripped off’ despite Chancellor’s cuts

Chancellor’s measures didn’t convince taxpayers
Chancellor Rishi Sunak

The chancellor’s spring statement has been branded a “rip off” by Lincolnshire residents who are struggling with soaring fuel and energy bills.

Rishi Sunak yesterday unveiled a 5p cut per litre on fuel duty and a 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax before 2024. However, taxpayers have said it’s just not enough.

Prices are rising at the fastest rate for 30 years, with a six per cent increase over the last twelve months. Petrol has also hit record levels in recent weeks.

John Potter said that the Chancellor’s measures didn’t convince him.

“I don’t think we’ll feel much difference at all from the budget. The cut in fuel duty certainly hasn’t made prices go down much,” he said.

“The cost of crude oil has dropped a lot – yet the price to fill up your car has stayed high. All the oil producers are getting together and keeping it up on purpose.

“When they’re a consortium, they can charge what they want. The government isn’t doing anything to stop them.  It’s the same story with gas.

“Someone who relies on their car for business like a taxi driver is going to be hurting when they’re filling up everyday. It soon adds up.”

Another Scunthorpe shopper said: “Prices go up, but wages never go up to compensate. It’s one big rip off.

“I don’t want to blame Covid, but I think companies are seeing a chance to make back the money they lost during the pandemic.

“The 1p tax cut on income tax isn’t good enough either.”

A woman said people were facing “really hard times.” She added: “A lot of people you wouldn’t expect are having to turn to food banks or community larders to get by.

“A few pence difference here and there is going to be negligible overall. I can’t imagine that families who are really struggling will feel much of a difference.”

Another shopper said the cut in fuel duty – which is set to expire in March 2023 – wasn’t enough either.

“I filled up this morning, and I barely noticed any difference in the price of petrol. It’s still far too high,” he said.

The income threshold at which people play National Insurance will also rise to £12,570 in July. The Chancellor says this will leave employees £330 a year better off.

Local authorities are being given an extra £500million to help vulnerable people deal with the rising costs. However, the Office of Budget Responsibility has warned that energy bills could jump by as much as 40 per cent later this year.