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Transaction is misguided
Page 28
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AS ONE OFTHE leading protagonists and negotiators in the fuel price disputes of 2000. I feel empathy with Transaction 2007 and what it is trying to achieve. I do equally feel that it is going about it in the wrong way.
It is levelling criticism at the RHA, although this was the only organisation to facilitate talks with government and support the legal, lawful, protesters.
What Transaction needs to realise is that a lot of those who protested in 2000 are by design or default out of the industry, as are many of their customers.
The issues of 2000 still persist in 2007; nothing much has changed on that front.
Those with a commercial interest in UK Plc, such as the RHA,FTA, CBI, and Federation of Small Businesses, need to join forces and approach the government together.
What is needed is a public debate to have the government defend its position on why we pay the highest fuel duty in the world; this should be a 'Question Time'-style debate with all political party representation,and the RHA and FTA on the panel with an invited audience.
Transaction 2007 has good intentions but in my opinion it is misguided.There will be no rerun of 2000, and if it is not careful its protests will fall apart and make us all look weak and ineffective.
I would be the first to protest if I felt there was sufficient support, but I do not personally think there is. While I understand the frustrations and passion Transaction 2007 feel,it needs to concentrate on what is achievable and how effective it will be by galvanising support from as wide a audience as it can.
We need a tax revolt on the issue of fuel to get the government, which has continued to tax our industry and others in the UK out of business, to act. Sadly much of our industry has now migrated overseas.
Clive Hovland By e-mail