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DON'T FEAR US, WORK WITH US!

20th May 2004, Page 10
20th May 2004
Page 10
Page 10, 20th May 2004 — DON'T FEAR US, WORK WITH US!
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Hold on guys, we're back on the fuel escalator. The world oil price keeps rising, and so the price of diesel just keeps soaring too. It's affecting inflation

the Chancellor must take action now. Diesel prices now seem to be rising at a penny a day per litre, enough to drive anyone out of business and in some areas they are breaching the £1/lit mark. Commentators in usually well-informed newspapers have taken it upon themselves to hope for even higher prices, believing it will keep cars off the road. But their

argument only shows their ignorance. What do they think trucks run on? How else are they planning to get their groceries? New clothes? Furniture? Higher fuel prices don't just drive cars off the road, they will drive entire fleets of

trucks and road transport companies off the road too. Higher fuel prices cripple our industry, and could cripple the UK's supply chain toobut it seems that message hasn't been driven home to consumers yet.

But the government appears to be taking a tough line at least with any threat of protest. Reports last week that the army was to be brought in to maintain supply lines were ambiguous as to the army's exact brief but made two things very clear. One is that public and industry feeling over this runs high enough for the government to take a threat of dissent seriously. It hasn't forgotten the deep well of public support shown for the fuel protesters last time.

Secondly it shows that the government is worried about the effect a fuel protest could have on the economic and social fabric of the country. In other words it recognises the power we have over the lives of everyone who lives in the UK. It's not a power we should ever abuse but it is one we should recognise.

It's a shame the government's respect for the industry as a potential adversary is not matched with respect for it as an ally, where it could translate into the formulation of policy supportive of our industries and economy. Take us seriously Mr Brown we're the lifeblood of this country.


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