A YORK MP has criticised calls from the Countryside Alliance and fellow MPs to cut or postpone fuel duty.

Hugh Bayley, MP for York Central, said it was inappropriate to call for fuel duty cuts without suggesting where the lost funds could be made up.

He said: “Anyone who proposes a cut in fuel duty in the current climate must explain where the shortfall is going to come from.

“The Government has already increased VAT to 20 per cent and ruled out increases to business tax, Income Tax and National Insurance, so the Chancellor doesn’t have much room for manoeuvre.”

Yesterday, Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty, and Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer, told The Press they backed calls from the CA to postpone or cut fuel duty, after it was found residents in rural areas of North Yorkshire including Selby and Hambleton had the highest fuel costs in the region.