Motorists are being warned to expect disruption as hundreds of lorry drivers head into London to protest about fuel prices. The two-pence-per-litre fuel tax rise, proposed by the Government, has triggered direct action from hauliers.Lorry convoys are said to be forming on the M4 in Wales, the M2 in Kent, the A40, and the M25 orbital motorway around London. Many are expected to converge on Whitehall before handing in a petition at 10 Downing Street.Hauliers claim that the proposed increase is the final straw that would drive many firms out of business. In Westminster 42 MPs have signed a Commons motion asking the government to reconsider the rise. However, the trucker’s fuel protest is unlikely to help reduce fuel costs for car drivers as protesters are only demanding an ‘essential use’ exemption for HGVs. We reported recently on Goldman Sachs’ prediction that fuel prices could double by the end of this year.
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Re: Hauliers protest fuel tax hike
What we need over the hike in fuel prices is direct action by regular motorists. If everyone went into the filling station and put in £10 of either petrol or diesel and then put £2 on the counter saying " I refuse to pay the tax", the Government and the retailers would have to do something about it. When will people realise that nigh-on 80% of the price of pump fuel is just tax. The Government tell us the tax is set at 60 or 65% but then they charge VAT on top making nearer 80% of the cost in just tax! The Government blame the oil companies and it's true the price of a barrel of oil has rocketed in price in recent years and with the Welsh farmers' leaders now threatening to blockade refineries, we'll soon be back to the scenes we saw in 2000 and in 1973 before then. Don't the farmers realise the only people they'll be hitting by blocking the refineries is the common man trying to fill up with fuel? Hit back at the Treasury by buying £10 of fuel and putting £2 on the counter. The Government would have to listen then... The only trouble is people wouldn't stand together on the issue. We all need fuel and for as long as we do, we're stuck with paying high prices. It's the "mustn't grumble" attitude. What I'd like to know is what are retailers and bodies like the Petrol Retailers Association doing about prices. They only get a small cut but must see that people are fed up with paying high prices. Can they not lobby the Government for change?
Re: Hauliers protest fuel tax hike
Well I knew I'd eventually see this day, it's very annoying considering I have only just got on my feet financially (well, for my age anyway), only to find I'll be back in the gutter again give it a year or so with the rises in inflation etc. At the same time though, I can see alot of people defaulting their homes back to the banks if things carry on the way they are so I don't know if I've been lucky or not by missing out on the property grab.
I didn't think this country had the ability to compete with other poorer countries when it comes to production within the secondary sector, however we do still have primary sector resources such as coal that we export to China, even though we preach all this rubbish about being environmentally friendly which winds me up, but that industry is even less existant. Anyway the point is, it's not really encouraging for business when people won't buy our goods because joe blogs down the road can make it and sell it cheaper due to our stronger currency. Isn't that one of the main reasons we don't really have an industrial sector? Or have I missed the point?
Re: Hauliers protest fuel tax hike
Loather, I don't believe anything I hear at all these days, especially when I hear words like "right man for the job" and then seeing the living standards of the good people of Britain go down the pan on a daily basis...
Reading your posts regarding the state of so called 'democracy' and the banks is really quite depressing even though it is entirely obvious, afterall, money makes the world go round and if you haven't got any, then you don't have a voice.
You're all very right about austerity as an enevitability of this governments spending. I'm not sure which public service I'd like to see less spending on though, I know there's alot of money being raked in with taxes but really I have no idea where any of it going?
I don't understand how government gets us in this mess though, how does the advice of so many economists get ignored? I suppose again it's all down to greed and making the quick buck in the end... It's like the bank has the government bent over a big pile of money with a roll of 50's up it's arse, it's their own fault though, but they don't care because they have us to pay for it! I still don't understand though... it's basic maths, if income is less than spending then we're living beyond our means, how can someone get this wrong and not get the wrap for it?
Please excuse my ignorance too, I've only really began to ask these sort of questions.