Duty demo rolls into London
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• Fuel protesters from across the country descended on London as their 60-day deadline expired. As Commercial Motor went to press the People's Fuel Lobby was claiming that more than 1,000 people had gathered in Hyde Park, but police seemed to outnumber protesters.
The PFL says that Chancellor Gordon Brown's Elbn aid package for the road haulage industry did not go far enough.
PFL leader David Hanley wants the government to spend more of its budget surplus on a cut in fuel duty—and he denies that the protest has lost public support.
But as hundreds of trucks rolled into London, the industry remained sceptical about what the protest would achieve.
The Freight Transport Association and Road Haulage Association distanced themselves from the convoys.
FTA spokesman Geoff Dossetter says: "As far as the demonstrations are concerned it's difficult to say what further point can he achieved."
While grassroots organisations like Transaction and the Hauliers' Alliance gave tacit support to the demonstrations, both questioned what effect the rally would have.
Tim Smith of the Hauliers Alliance describes the protest as a "good release of frustration" but adds: "I don't think they are going to get anywhere with the British Government."
• A convoy of 82 Scottish truckers rolled into Edinburgh in support of the fuel protest: hauliers came from as far afield as John O'Groats. One truck delivered a PFL petition to the Scottish Parliament.