The Road Haulage Association is delighted that the Prime Minister has come out against the Chancellor's plans to increase fuel duty by 3ppl on 1 August.

"This is tremendous news", said RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning. "We, in conjunction with Fair Fuel UK., have been campaigning tirelessly to see the August increase abandoned.

"Fuel is the one commodity on which the entire population of the UK is, to some extent, dependent. While we see prices fluctuating on an almost daily basis; it is the high level of fuel duty that has proved to be the thorn in the side of the economy. We already pay the highest level of fuel duty in Europe and, at a time when for many households, literally every penny counts, any increase at this time is unthinkable.

"The barrel price of oil is lower than we have seen for months and will go some way to relieving economic pressure", Dunning continued. "To see an increase in fuel duty at this critical time is unthinkable. The economy needs all the help it can get to recover quickly and we are pleased that this is also the Prime Minister's view. Surely the Chancellor is keen to see the same thing?".