by Martin Jefferies and Jess Banham

petrol per litre

january 2003 – 76.3p
january 2004 – 76.9p
january 2005 – 79.6p
january 2006 – 89.4p
january 2007 – 87.5p
january 2008 – 104.3p
january 2009 – 86.6p
january 2010 – 111.8p
january 2011 – 128.3p
october 2011 – 134.51p

MPs have backed a move to stop the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel after a hard-fought campaign by a Kent haulage boss.

Peter Carroll's online petition was signed by more than 100,000 people – enough to trigger a parliamentary debate.

Last night, MPs backed a motion asking the government to bring in measures to hold down fuel prices.

They want to introduce a means of stabilising prices, allowing taxes to increase when oil prices drop and reduce when they rise.

The debate also heaps further pressure on Chancellor George Osborne to scrap plans to increase fuel duty by 3p a litre in January – adding at least £1.25 to the cost of filling an average-sized car.

Peter Carroll, whose FairFuelUK campaign is backed by the Road Haulage Association, the Freight Transport Association, The Fuelcard Company and the RAC, said: "We're now looking to the Chancellor's autumn statement, when he'll have the opportunity to take this debate and its outcome into account.

"We hope and pray that he'll scrap this horrendous rise in fuel tax."

Mr Carroll said he would continue campaigning for a better deal for drivers, whether the Chancellor abandons the planned increases or not.

"It's not enough for him just to scrap the rises planned for next year as that will still leave diesel and petrol scandalously high," he added. "Even if he scraps the rises, the FairFuelUK campaign goes on and I plead with people across Kent to sign up to it. Don't leave it to someone else."