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07/09/2005
Fuel protests threatened
Protestors have threatened to begin blockading refineries next week, if the tax on fuel is not reduced.
Andrew Spence, a spokesperson for the Fuel Lobby, warned that the blockades would begin at 6am on September 14, unless price cuts were made.
Fuel protests in September 2000 brought the UK to a virtual standstill and resulted in shortages and panic buying. The weeklong protest was believed to have cost British business in the region of £1 billion.
The average price of unleaded petrol in the UK rose to 94.6 pence per litre over the weekend and has continued to climb this week, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the US.
The government receives around three quarters of the cost of petrol in duty and tax.
Commenting on the protest threats, a spokesperson for the Treasury said that road fuel duty rates on the main types of petrol and diesel were now lower than they were in 1999. The spokesperson said: “We believe the biggest priority in terms of reducing fuel costs must be working with the American government to restore production levels affected by the Hurricane Katrina disaster, as well as maintaining pressure on OPEC to set their oil production at levels consistent with more stable and sustainable prices.
“More than half the fuel used in the UK bears little or no fuel duty at all, including the red diesel used by farmers like Mr Spence and that fuel used in industrial production, heating of homes and workplaces and rail and bus transport, so seeking to address the problem of high oil prices through road fuel duty alone would do nothing for the majority of consumers.”
(KMcA/SP)
Andrew Spence, a spokesperson for the Fuel Lobby, warned that the blockades would begin at 6am on September 14, unless price cuts were made.
Fuel protests in September 2000 brought the UK to a virtual standstill and resulted in shortages and panic buying. The weeklong protest was believed to have cost British business in the region of £1 billion.
The average price of unleaded petrol in the UK rose to 94.6 pence per litre over the weekend and has continued to climb this week, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the US.
The government receives around three quarters of the cost of petrol in duty and tax.
Commenting on the protest threats, a spokesperson for the Treasury said that road fuel duty rates on the main types of petrol and diesel were now lower than they were in 1999. The spokesperson said: “We believe the biggest priority in terms of reducing fuel costs must be working with the American government to restore production levels affected by the Hurricane Katrina disaster, as well as maintaining pressure on OPEC to set their oil production at levels consistent with more stable and sustainable prices.
“More than half the fuel used in the UK bears little or no fuel duty at all, including the red diesel used by farmers like Mr Spence and that fuel used in industrial production, heating of homes and workplaces and rail and bus transport, so seeking to address the problem of high oil prices through road fuel duty alone would do nothing for the majority of consumers.”
(KMcA/SP)
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'Opportunist' Howard gives backing to fuel protesters
Tory leader Michael Howard has been labelled "opportunist" after he gave his backing today to fuel protesters "as long as they were peaceful and within the law". Mr Howard signalled his support for demonstrators who are angry at fuel price rises, and called on the Chancellor to abandon plans to raise fuel duty in the autumn.
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'Cut Fuel Duty' If Price Stabiliser Fails, Says Forum
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