New fuel protests set to bring UK to a standstill

It looks like the fuel protesters are poised to bring Britain to a standstill again.

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Four years ago, a relatively small group of protestors (farmers, hauliers mainly) blockaded the main fuel depots in the UK in protest at the government's outrageous 80% fuel duty. Within a few days petrol and diesel basically ran out, leading to total chaos - food supplies and medical supplies were running out because there was no transport and, in many areas, the emergency services were unable to respond to 999 calls because many vehicles were out of action.

It is fair to say that the issue put the Labour government in jeopardy and, if it had gone on, it could have brought the government down.

The government responded by smearing the protestors and accusing them of being part of a right wing cabal intent on damaging the incumbent socialist government.

However, the protests did work as the government backed down from its annual above-inflation hike in duties and there have been no further increases since.

It looks like more action is planned in response to a proposal to increase fuel duty and because of the recent worldwide jump in oil prices.

Its unlikely the government will allow themselves to be vulnerable again so I wonder how they will counter the protestors this time?

I find the prospect of the use of 'emergency powers' extremely worrying.



[Edited on 3-6-2004 by harrisjohns]

People should be protesting for more research into enviromentaly friendly, renewable power sources, not trying to make the problem with this Earth cheaper to use. Nobody cares about the beautiful planet that shelters us from space and keeps us alive, or the people who are killed for oil everyday (in iraq and elsewhere).

The government does not care about the people it only cares about staying in power. The answer is to remove them from ofice when the next election takes place. The high cost of fuel is a national scandal, it hurts the long suffering motorists and it makes haulage companies pay money that they do not have. Who will transport our food and other goods if there is no haulage industry? The time has come for Blair and New Labour to be removed from office by the ballot box.

Gerard

The only time I have ever heard of a boycott of this kind was back in 2000. That was the fault of Blairs Government too.

Lets just bugger him off and get someone new. Maybe we'll get someone decent this time. Anything is possible.

The only time I have ever heard of a boycott of this kind was back in 2000. That was the fault of Blairs Government too.

Lets just bugger him off and get someone new. Maybe we'll get someone decent this time. Anything is possible.

Well said, Pisky, these fuel protestors couldn't have picked a better time with elections looming. Blair's dead in the water, a spent political force who has become a national joke.

People should be protesting for more research into enviromentaly friendly, renewable power sources, not trying to make the problem with this Earth cheaper to use. Nobody cares about the beautiful planet that shelters us from space and keeps us alive, or the people who are killed for oil everyday (in iraq and elsewhere).

Couldn't agree with you more. But this is about a Government who uses the environment as an excuse to impose a duty of 80% on fuel as a pure tax-raising exercise.

I'm sure a lot of people would support fuel duty if any of it went back into funding research and development of renewable, environmentally friendly and realistically priced alternatives.

But it doesn't, it all goes into the Chancellor's pocket and then into the European Union to prop up Portugese pension schemes (or whatever).

People are fed up with the over-taxing in this country and the forthcoming fuel protests are one way of getting the government to listen.

Good luck to them.

Originally posted by harrisjohns
Couldn't agree with you more. But this is about a Government who uses the environment as an excuse to impose a duty of 80% on fuel as a pure tax-raising exercise.

I'm sure a lot of people would support fuel duty if any of it went back into funding research and development of renewable, environmentally friendly and realistically priced alternatives.


Good luck to them.

'tis true, 'tis true. High fuel taxes are only any use if they help the oil problem. However it still helps to discourage more people from using cars which is a good thing. But I certainly don't agree with the government crippling people who need automobile transport for their livelyhoods just for more cash. Good luck to the protestors indeed.

I always wonder why here in the US people do not protest like they use to back in the 60's and 70's what happened. And energy efficient cars are not good money makers.

I want to know when we are going to park our cars and truck and protest the oil prices in US.

I remember the last protest

Hardly no cars on the rode

I guess the electric tram near us the buisness will be booming

I remember during the 70's the bombs on mail boxes and the protest in the universities, I was a college student in late 79, and I use to participate on the protest back home it was more for the fun than anything else.

But going back to the standstill, this country should have one day of protest and every body should stay home and not drive, and see what that single day will do to the economy.


[Edited on 3-6-2004 by marg6043]

However it still helps to discourage more people from using cars which is a good thing.

This is a myth, I'm afraid, people keep their cars on the road at all costs and cut spending in other areas.

High fuel tax doesn't reduce car use.

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