The campaign to refresh the mileage rate is making progress, with the Chancellor confirming the current HMRC mileage rate is under consideration for review ahead of the next budget.
Fundamentally the campaign is about fairness, and honouring the British contract; a fair days pay for a fair days work.
But as it stands the self-employed, NHS staff, care workers or any working person whose a vehicle for work are left paying out of their own pocket just to do their job.
The 45p a mile rate was set 15 years ago. It is nowhere near the real cost of running a vehicle today, now assessed at around 67p a mile, and that was before fuel costs rocketed again this past week.
Thanks again to Unison and the RAC Foundation for continuing their long standing campaign which has brought this to light and to The Mirror for championing this issue. I am grateful to them for pushing the evidence and keeping the pressure on.
Millions of working people should not be subsidising their employer or the tax office, nor should any worker be taking home pay which is effectively below minimum wage.
The response from the Chancellor is promising, and millions of workers will welcome it too, especially as global events mean fuel costs have been rising further.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 