Blockades are election issue
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by Karen Miles • British hauliers' battles to survive during a string of Continental blockades in the past six months caused bitter pre-election arguments this week.
Labour and Liberal Democrat transport spokesmen condemned the outgoing Government over its handling of British compensation claims for the French truck blockade.
In a fierce exchange during a radio debate Transport Secretary Sir George Young accused Labour and the Liberal Democrats of cynically trying to grab lastminute votes from hauliers.
In return, Sir George was accused by both Labour and the Liberal Demo crats transport spokesmen of failing to produce results for hauliers five months after the original French blockade. The French drivers are threatening more action on 5 May.
Labour's Andrew Smith said the Government had proved itself "utterly hopeless" and a failure in Europe. He accused the Tories of failing to stand up for Britain's interests properly. David Chidgey of the Liberal Democrats had already rubbished Government attempts to recoup compensation for November's French blockade as "ineffectual", alleging that its inaction was costing hauliers millions of pounds.
But speaking at the end of the debate on BBC Radio 4's World at One programme, Sir George rejected the claims, saying he had been "absolutely determined to get a fair deal for our lorry drivers". Sir George said it appeared both Labour and the Liberal Democrats were trying to score "political runs" from the issue.
However, during the debate the Labour spokesman attacked Sir George when the Transport Secretary said one reason hauliers had not yet received compensation was because not all claims had been submitted to the French. Smith said it was "outrageous of George Young to somehow suggest it's the fault of the hauliers" when they had faced bureaucratic obstacles.
On the same programme Freight Transport Association director-general David Green said European governments must stop national blockades where the transport industry is held to ransom.