Dissatisfied hauliers stick with the Tories
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EXCLUSIVE SURVEY
• More than 80% of hauliers think the haulage industry has fared badly under the Conservatives—but only 12% plan to vote Labour at the next election, according to a Commercial Motor poll The largest group, 40%, remain loyal to the Conservative Party: 32% describe themselves as floating voters and don't expect to make up their minds until election clay with 8% planning to abstain and just 3% putting their faith in the Liberal Democrats.
Most say they intend to stay with the "devil they know"—not because they are impressed with the Conservatives, but they because they are unsure of Labour's intentions. Less than 17% of those questioned are happy with the present Government's performance.
When asked what single piece of legisla tion would make life easier for the industry, hauliers have a range of answers. The harmonisation of UK road taxes with Europe is favourite; doing away with VED in favour of a fuel tax comes a close second.
Will British hauliers ever adopt the tactics of the French to protest about pay and conditions? Not likely—a resounding 92% say they couldn't, describing such direct action as "un-British".