Hold fire on demos, says PFL
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• Newly formed pressure group, the People's Fuel Lobbg says it prevented another series of fuel protests at this week's Labour Party conference in Brighton which could have damaged support for the industry.
PFL vice-chairman Mark Francis says hauliers were on the verge ofjoining farmers and the Countryside Alliance at conference as they were frustrated by Chancellor Gordon Brown's refusal to recognise the 60-day deadline for concessions.
On Monday 150 tractors belonging to the Countryside Alliance staged a go-slow drive outside the conference.
But Francis says: "We agreed to give the government 60 days without pressure from us to do something about soaring fuel costs. "I think that if hauliers mounted protests again now the government would dig its heels in even further.
'We want to keep the public on our side and must be seen as people who can honour the 60day moratorium," he adds.
Len Johnson, chairman of the Hauliers and Farmers Alliance, says the hauliers demonstrating at the conference could lead to another bout of panic-buying of fuel: "A few hauliers could be in Brighton, but just to show a presence."
Tom Boucher, an
owner-driver and Southampton FIFA member, says that hauliers in the area had intended to "go in force" to Brighton. But he adds: "We will wait until the end of the 60day period before we make our next move. If
the government won't listen, we'll be back with large-scale disruption."
The Freight Transport Association was handing out leaflets at the conference, reminding MPs of its demands.
The Road Haulage Association's tax tanker was kept away by "logistical oroblems".