Forum issues fuel duty warning
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• The industry pressure group the Fuel Forum is warning that any increase in the price of fuel sparked by OPEC could lead to a new series of fuel protests this summer.
This follows speculation that the oil producing states will decide to cut pro duction and drive up oil prices when they meet on 5-6 June.
National press reports are predicting that the cost of fuel could rise by up to Hp/lit. Olive Hoyland, a Fuel Forum member and operator of 47 trucks, says such a rise could provide the catalyst "to pull the hairtrigger which hauliers are sitting on".
While accepting that an OPEC rise would have the same effect on competitors worldwide, %land says it would "re-focus hauliers' eyes back on the issue of fuel prices following a period of relative stability".
Hoyland's comments add to a press release from the Fuel Forum last week which included a warning: "Any government with a huge majority should not feel it has a mandate to threaten the livelihood of business people through penal rates of taxation.
"Accordingly the Fuel Forum will consider an immediate and direct response if fuel duty in a future Budget is increased in any way whatsoever."
The Forum welcomes the prospect of a further 6p/lit reduction offered by the Conservatives but rejects Tory claims that EU fuel tax harmonisation would lead to increases in UK fuel duty.
• How will hauliers vote at the general election? Find out on page 9.