Gordon Brown is facing a fresh backbench rebellion over plans for a punitive tax on inefficient cars amid public anger over soaring petrol prices.

It emerged on Monday that 35 Labour backbenchers had signed a Commons motion urging the prime minister to scrap proposals for a jump in vehicle excise duty on polluting cars. Alistair Darling, the chancellor, is set to meet the dissident MPs in a week’s time to discuss their concerns.