The Government's plan to increase fuel duty by 3p in January 2013 looks likely to go ahead, after an attempt by Labour MPs to delay the rise failed.
Labour was pushing for the price hike to be postponed until April, claiming that "it would be wrong" for it to come in earlier than this; however, the party were defeated in the Commons by 282 votes to 234.
Labour argued that the 3p rise in fuel duty would stretch cash-strapped families and harm the economic recovery.
The Treasury responded to Labour's criticisms, claiming that the current cost of fuel is 10 pence per litre lower than it could have been under the previous Government's plans.
Despite a number of Tory MPs opposing the fuel duty increase, they refused to vote with Labour, preferring instead to wait until George Osborne's autumn statement.
The price rise was originally slated for introduction in August but the Chancellor announced in June that it would be pushed back to January 2013.
