A senior Tory MP has called for an independent fuel price watchdog amid concerns that the proposed £12 billion merger of Asda and J Sainsbury will push up the cost of petrol and diesel.
Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow and a former education minister, has written to the Competition and Markets Authority with Fair Fuel UK, the campaign group, demanding assurances that prices will be monitored in the event of a merger.
“Both I and Fair Fuel UK have serious concerns that this merger will affect market competition and there is a real worry that it will cause thousands of motorists to be hammered at the pumps,” he said, adding: “It’s even more vital that an independent pump price monitoring watchdog is created.”
Combined, Asda