Michael Howard has called on the prime minister to scrap plans to raise petrol taxes this autumn.

His comments came amid exchanges in the Commons that occurred before protests prompted the suspension of the session.

As petrol reaches 88 pence per litre, Tony Blair faced calls for a rethink on the chancellor's planned fuel duty increase.

"Does the prime minister not realise the hardship the increase in petrol tax will cause?" asked Howard.

Amid suggestions of fresh fuel protests the Tory leader said the chancellor can "directly control" petrol taxes and pressed Blair to force a rethink.

The prime minister hit back, insisting the economy was strong.

He said that the recent rises in petrol prices were "beyond our control".

Rethink

But Howard suggested Blair would eventually be forced to follow Tory thinking - mirroring recent moves on key policies.

He said the government had stolen Tory policy on pensions, variable speeding fines and the referendum on the EU constitution.

"We seem to be working well together in the interests of the country," Howard said.

"We propose the policies, he adopts them."

To muffled cheers the prime minister, however, listed Tory policies such as the poll tax and pledged that no Labour government would replicate them.