News today from Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls on cutting VAT on fuel is not only a sensible policy position but one that people in Medway have been demanding for months.
The Tories have been lamentably slow on fuel tax; partly because George wants to squeeze the tax payer until the last possible moment, partly because it would highlight the wheeze that was the Fuel Duty Stabiliser policy which was briefed against only in October.
Labour opposed the fuel duty stabiliser in government but after the election defeat in May it was expected the government would fulfil the pre-manifesto pledge. Alas, it never materialised.
There is a certain sense of Labour pre-emption of an announcement in the next budget, but a clear policy position by Labour now makes it virtually impossible for the Chancellor to do nothing on fuel. Coupled with the fact Labour are leading the charge makes for sensible opposition politics. Lead the debate or be led; I would rather Labour be leading the debate.
The public in Medway have been angered by fuel costs for years and expected a Conservative government to cut prices. Labour are right to campaign on this issue and it is a vote winner locally.
Ed Balls is the most feared of Labour politicians on the right because he is tactically shrewd whilst being intellectually strong. He gets punch-and-judy but also gets detail and policy. Marrying both the policy and the media-saavyness in politics is tricky.
There will be many Conservatives saying that this should have been natural Tory territory, sadly after the incomptence surrounding the government last week, it is clear the government is not firing on all cylinders, though are being given an easy ride by the media.
Labour locally are supporting the cut in fuel duty promoted by Ed Balls. It is time the Conservatives did what they said on the tin. Cut fuel prices and cut them now.
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