Scrapping the planned January 3p rise in petrol duty is a “no brainer”, a Somerset MP said yesterday.

And Tory Ian Liddell-Grainger warned he is prepared to rebel against the Government if Ministers do try to go ahead with the increase.

He spoke out as the Commons discussed fuel duty, after a consumer revolt that saw more than 100,000 motorists sign an e-petition demanding a debate.

The motion calling to abandon the proposed duty hike was carried by MPs last night without a vote.

Bridgwater & West Somerset MP Mr Liddell-Grainger told the Western Daily Press that he did not believe the 3p rise would happen in any eventuality.

“It is a no-brainer, there is no way the Chancellor can put it up – it is hard enough in rural areas without another 3p on a litre. As it is, petrol prices are too high and we need to find a way to get them down.”

Stroud Tory MP Neil Carmichael told the Commons: “We have a large number of haulage firms who are very concerned about the price of diesel. They are in turn passing it on the small and medium-sized firms and it is causing difficulties for them.”

And Devizes Tory MP Claire Perry raised the issue of the lack of competition among filling stations in her constituency. The Office of National Statistics said this week poorer families have to spend twice as much of their disposable income on fuel duty costs as the richest households.

Tory Robert Halfon, who secured the debate, said axing the fuel hike would boost economic recovery, as well as helping the rural communities being destroyed by high prices.

“We must show that tax cutting is a moral creed, we must show this is a Government for the many and not the few, a Government that cuts taxes for millions of British people and not just for millionaires.”

He said sales of petrol and diesel had been falling since 2008 as it was so expensive, denying the Treasury tax revenue.

“This is being driven by high taxes and we have to be realistic and truthful about who pays the lion’s share of fuel duty. It’s ordinary families driving to work, it’s mums taking their children to school, it’s small businesses who can’t afford to drive a van or their lorry, it’s non-motorists who depend on buses who are also being crushed by rocketing food prices as the cost of road haulage goes through the roof.”

The MP called on the Government to press the multinationals to drive down pump prices, pointing out the cost of Brent crude had fallen by a fifth since April.

Other West MPs demanding action include Tories Robert Buckland (North Swindon), Justin Tomlinson (South Swindon), James Gray (North Wiltshire) and John Glen (Salisbury), and Liberal Democrat Tessa Munt (Wells).

Adrian Tink, of the RAC, said: “We heard over and over again the particular pain rural motorists are facing.”