Osborne pledges fuel duty freeze until 2015

The Chancellor plans to cancel the 2p-a-litre increase, continuing a freeze that has already lasted for 2 ½ years.

11:37 01 October 2013

Showing his determination to help ease the cost of living, Chancellor George Osborne has told the Tory party conference that fuel duty, which has been frozen for the last 2 ½ years, will be remain that way until 2015 if the money is available.

He revealed that he aims to cancel the 2p-a-litre increase pencilled by Labour for September 2014. If the cancellation pushes through, pump prices will be left at 20p-per-litre lower than under the plans inherited from Labour.

However, this plan comes with the condition of finding funds to pay for it. Mr Osborne declared that he wanted a future government to run a surplus.

He said: "What is the alternative? To run a deficit forever? To leave our children with our debts? To leave Britain perilously exposed to the next time the storm comes?

"This crisis took us to the brink. If we don't reduce our debts, the next could push us over. Let us learn from the mistakes that got Britain into this mess.

"Let us vow: never again. This time we're going to run a surplus. This time we're going to fix the roof when the sun shines."