P UEL DUTY
Page 7
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Pre-election fuel protests likely, warns TransAction
christophermaltoneirbi.co.w
PRESSURE GROl JP TransAction has warned that a protest over the rising cost of fuel could be staged close to next month's general election.
According to a statement on TransAction's website, "protests against the recent 2.5p/litre fuel duty and subsequent price rises are being co-ordinated around the country': adding that many frontline organisers from the protests in 2000 are involved.
CM understands that interest in g a fuel protest has been shown by a group of haulage contractors in 7, the North-East. as well as Farmers ,for Action, and TransAction is conducting a survey of its members about potential protest action.
Mike Presneill. MD of Presne ill 'Tipper Cont ractorsand spokesman for TransAction, says that, given the current price of fuel and the level of duty. a protest would be more than justified.
"Whatever we do would be legal protest action," he says. -People are indicating that they have something in mind. Whatever it is would not be a re-run of what we saw in 2007, with firms coming down to London."
Farmers for Action was unavailable for comment.
Geoff Dunning. chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, says it is essential that fuel duty lobbying targets the right people in the next government and voters should have a clearer idea of where the major parties stood.
He adds: "Labour say they will increase duty over the next couple of years, while the Tories want to introduce a Fair Fuel Stabiliser, which seems to have some merits, but stabilising at what price?"
• See p10 for more on fuel costs.