... but public doesn’t back a return to direct action on 3ppl rise in fuel duty
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THE PUBLIC wants road hauliers to fight against the planned 3ppl rise in fuel duty in August, but it does not back a return to direct action.
According to exclusive research conducted by GfK on behalf of CM, parliamentary protests have the backing of 58% of the public.
Lobbying government behind the scenes has the backing of more than half (51%) of those surveyed.
Blockading depots to halt fuel supplies, however, only has the backing of about 30% of the public, while rolling roadblocks on main roads is supported by almost a quarter (24%) of those who responded to the survey.
The results showed even more support for lobbying action from those who were drivers themselves.
Some 65% of those surveyed who could drive supported protests outside Parliament, compared to 44% of non-drivers, while 54% of drivers supported behind-the-scenes lobbying compared to 45% of those who could not drive.
The highest levels of support for blockades and rolling road blocks was in Scotland and the North West, while the lowest levels of support were in London and the South East.
The findings come as FairFuelUK, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association are undertaking intensive work behind the scenes at Westminster to get the August rise scrapped.
RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning says the “immediate priority” is to find enough political support to get the rise abandoned.
According to figures from the RHA, the average price of bulk diesel was 117.66ppl last week.