FairFuelUK ight goes straight to the heart of government
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laura.hailstone@rbi.co.uk THE FAIRFUELUK campaigners took the ight for a fair deal on fuel straight to the heart of government on Tuesday.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association (FTA), along with TV motoring journalist Quentin Wilson, turned up at College Green, opposite the House of Commons, at 9am armed with 600 individually addressed letters to present to MPs, highlighting the need to abolish the April fuel duty rise.
Four MPs turned up to accept the letters; Stephen Lloyd, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne & Willingdon; Alan Reid, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll & Bute; Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley and Nick Smith, Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent, Wales, each pledging their support for the campaign. Smith says he was contacted by local haulier Owens Road Services who explained that it had spent £12m a year on fuel, of which £6m went to the government in taxes. “Coupled with the high level of VAT this isn’t doing anything to support business or economic growth so I’m more than happy to support this campaign.” The celebrity face of FairFuelUK, Quentin Wilson, says he is 100% behind the campaign. “If something isn’t done soon it will de-stabilise the whole economy.” To date, the FairFuelUK petition has collated over 22,500 signatures.
Martin Bennett, owner of Ipswich-based Gem Transport Logistics which runs three lorries, says he is willing to sign the petition as a freeze on the April rise “would at least be a start” .