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Gordon MP Welcomes UK Gov Backtrack Over Red Diesel
Gordon MP Richard Thomson has welcomed the UK Government’s decision to backtrack over changes to regulations on the use of red diesel which threatened the continuation of ploughing matches and other activities.
The SNP MP raised the matter with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak in January and took the issue to floor of the House of Commons during Business Questions last month, obtaining a ‘sympathetic’ response from the then Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Welcoming the change of heart, Richard Thomson MP said:
“This is excellent news for the organisers and participants in ploughing matches and other activities affected by the original ruling, but in reality things should never have got to this stage because we have been here before in 2008 when the UK Government was forced to back down over a threat to agricultural shows using red diesel.
“It seems no lessons were learned from that time and a lot of needless concern has been caused to event organisers which was entirely avoidable, not to mention the costs involved as the UK Government now needs to go back and clarify the regulations being used by HMRC.
“It tells us a lot that the UK Government tried the same trick as it did over a decade ago and was, once again, forced into a humiliating climbdown. However, I’m grateful to those constituents who raised this matter with me which meant I could go into battle on their behalf and I’m delighted at this positive outcome, albeit I shall await the fine detail coming forward.”
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