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TIME TO UNITE
Page 24
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The FTA has no wish to perpetuate the debate regarding the effects, or otherwise, of last year's fuel protests (CM15-21November). FTA long-held policy, constructed by its 11,000 members, was very positively not to support the demonstrations. Despite their enormous anger and discontent with the then levels of fuel duty and VED, most FTA members' concern during the protests was to find sufficient fuel and to get on with serving their customers.
Nobody could challenge legitimate demonstrations designed to draw attention to a point of view. But the fuel protests, far from being 'a good result for democracy' went much further and were in fact a challenge to it. Actions to prevent people and companies from obtaining fuel cannot be described as democratic. Challenges to the government should be made at the ballot box—not by attempting to bring the country to a halt.
But let's bring this debate to an end. For whatever reasons the government has adjusted its policies on duty. There is still a long way to go but at last we are going in the right direction, Far more important now to unite and to confront and overcome the problems generated if we get the wrong decisions about the Working Time Directive.
Fortunately FTA, RNA, the unions and the government itself form a totally united front on these issues. The bogeyman is elsewhere.
Geoff Dossetter, Head of External Affairs, Freight Transport Association, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.