MALVERN’s MP says she still wants January’s planned fuel duty rise axed – despite refusing to vote for a motion sending that message to the Government.

Harriett Baldwin said she was confident Chancellor George Osborne will scrap the controversial 3p-a-litre hike due in the New Year.

But on Monday night she refused to vote in favour of a House of Commons opposition motion.

She called the vote an “opportunistic” stunt by Labour.

The motion called for the increase to be held back until April, saying families and businesses are desperate for some good news.

The motion eventually failed after Tory MPs sided with the Government.

Growing ranks of Conservatives believe Mr Osborne will use his Autumn Statement next month to signal a delay in the rise anyway.

Ms Baldwin said: “We have already delayed or cancelled rises that Labour put in place so that fuel is 10p cheaper than it would have been otherwise, saving my constituents £159 on fuel.”

The average price of petrol in the UK stands at 142.4p a litre, according to the AA, with diesel 147.9p.

Although prices have dropped by around 1p on September, it remains only 4p off the record.

But fuel now accounts for 5p in every £1 of household spending – and prices in Worcestershire are typically 2p a litre higher than the national average.