Plaid Cymru’s Chris Franks (pictured) has criticised Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns for voting against a bid to make his party maintain a pre-election pledge.
Earlier this week, Plaid Cymru and the SNP led a debate in the Commons to tackle rising fuel prices. The two parties called on the Conservative-led Government to fulfil their pre-election pledge to establish a fuel duty regulator in the face of the inexorable rise in the price of oil.
Despite widespread support from leading industry bodies and motorist groups, the motion was defeated and voted down by a majority of MPs by 303 to 14.
Voting figures showed that from Wales, 11 MPs from the Tories and Lib Dems voted against the motion – while 25 Labour MPs abstained completely.
Mr Franks, AM for South Wales Central, said: “It is very disappointing that Mr Cairns and his Tory colleagues are trying to squirm out of a pledge to assist motorists over the price of fuel. Prices at the petrol pumps are crippling motorists in the Vale of Glamorgan.
“Fuel prices have shot through the roof in recent months and many people in the Vale simply cannot afford to put petrol in their car anymore.
“The vote in the House of Commons was a chance to make the Tories fulfil their promise to create a fuel-duty regulator; a promise they have so far failed to honour.
“Instead of keeping their word, the Tories have persistently tried to distance themselves from a key feature of their General Election campaign. Just like the Liberal Party, they have reneged upon key election pledges.
“As for the Welsh Labour MPs, it is lamentable that they abstained from the vote en masse instead of sticking up for beleaguered motorists.
“Plaid Cymru has called for a duty fuel regulator since 2005. We will continue to stick up for communities and businesses across Wales that have been hit hardest by the steep rises in the price of fuel.”
