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Poll: One in three believe Government is primarily responsible for high fuel prices
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More than a third (38%) of people in the UK think the Government
is primarily responsible for the current high price of fuel,
suggests a poll conducted for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One's Panorama.
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The results of a nationwide ICM Research poll into how motorists
have changed their habits in recent months and how the high price
of fuel and car taxes will affect the way they vote next time
will broadcast today (28 July) at 8.30pm.
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Britain's motorists are hurting and the rocketing price of fuel
has become a political hot potato. The survey also suggests that
over a third of people (35%) in the UK are more likely to vote
for a political party which promises to lower car and fuel taxes.
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Edmund King, President of The Automobile Association, believes
high fuel prices spell danger for the Government and it could
turn out to be a real vote loser.
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He says: "Normally in politics when it
comes to elections, health and education are right up there,
rightly so but you don't hear much about transport.
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"But now
motoring is becoming much more of an issue. If there are 32
million motorists out there, that's a substantial proportion of
the electorate and they could make a real difference in an
election."
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The Government has already pledged to reduce the UK's carbon
emissions by 20% over the next 12 years. But twice
they've taken their foot off the pedal – postponing a planned 2p
rise in fuel duty.
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Many of the UK's 32 million motorists are angry – and
they are all potential voters. So will the Government hold its
nerve and force such a sizeable chunk of the electorate to change
their habits, downsize their cars and save fuel and the
environment?
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Angela Eagle MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, says: "You have
to get the balance right and if there's a sudden price spike in
oil that is causing real hardship to businesses, families and
individuals in the country, then we have a duty as a government
to make sure that we can do something about that in the short-term but we don't lose sight of our medium to long-term goals,
which are to re-engineer the way our economy works in order to
reduce our carbon footprint and that is what we are doing."
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According to green economists the issue of climate change
cannot be ducked any longer and we need a radical re-think about
the future of motoring in this country.
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Professor Paul Ekins of King's College London says: "It's a very
bad sign, if at the first sign of political pressure we go
backwards in terms of climate change commitments.
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"It is time to
bite the bullet on high fuel prices. It is time to start the
transition towards using less and less oil for the way we get
around and for all sorts of other purposes rather than more and
more of it."
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From the Shetlands to Surrey, Panorama's Jane Corbin reports on
how high fuel prices are affecting all of us and asks what are
the alternatives?
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The Shetland Islands, Britain's most northerly point, present a
stark picture of where we could all be in a few months from now – petrol and diesel prices more than ten pence a litre higher than
further south and livelihoods and a whole way of life are under
threat.
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Eleanor Arthur's family has crofted here for generations but now
she cannot afford to run her Land Rover to tend to the animals or
get to work on a neighbouring island by car and ferry.
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Her
commute now costs her more each month than her mortgage. She is
facing the prospect of giving up and moving with her husband
and two young sons to the Shetland mainland.
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"We could buy a house on the mainland and the money I am already
spending on my commuting to work could be paying another
mortgage... Well it's desperate, I mean nobody wants to leave
what we have here. Sacrifices will have to made. It will not be
changes it'll be sacrifices," she says.
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The survey also suggests that:
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 high fuel prices are having a major affect on driving
habits with 31% of people driving less now than three months ago;
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the cost of vehicle tax (80%) and fuel efficiency (89%)
are important factors when buying a new car; Ìý
half of people would consider buying a car that uses
alternative fuels.
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Key poll questions:
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Which of the following do you think is primarily
responsible for the current high price of fuel?
38% The Government
22% Oil producing countries
20% Oil companies
11% Stock market traders
Others 3%
None/don't know 6%
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Would you be more likely to vote for a political party
which promised to lower car and fuel taxes?
60% no difference
35% more likely
4% less likely
Don't know 1% Ìý
Are you driving less now that three months ago because
of rising fuel prices? (Base: Respondents who have a licence
and/or drive)
32% driving less
68% no difference Ìý
Are you using alternative forms of transport more?
60% walking more
34% public transport
21% car sharing
20% cycling Ìý
If you were thinking of changing your car how important
would vehicle tax and fuel efficiency be? (Base: Respondents who
have a licence and/or drive)
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Vehicle tax cost?
80% very/fairly important
18% not very/not at all
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Fuel Efficiency?
89% very/fairly important
11% not very/at all important Ìý
How likely would you be to consider buying a car that
uses alternative fuels?
50% very/quite likely
46% not very/not likely
Don't know 4% Ìý
Prepared on behalf of Panaroma by ICM Research. Ìý
Notes to Editors
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Results come from telephone interviews via an ICM Research
omnibus survey, conducted among 1,021 adults (18+) in UK – 64% of
them frequent drivers.
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The fieldwork was conducted between
Wednesday 23 July and Thursday 24 July 2008. The data was
weighted to be representative of the UK population.
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Please note in any copy: This edition of Panorama, Can
We Afford to Fill Up?, will be broadcast on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One on Monday 28ÌýJuly
2008 from 8.30 to 9.00pm.
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PH
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