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CM campaigns at No10 COMMERCIAL MOTOR joined forces with the
Page 7
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Road Haulage Association last week to take our fuel tax protest to Downing Street.
In a high-profile demonstration, CM deputy editor Emma Penny drove a Daf XF95 to Number 10. with RHA chairman Val Smith and chief executive Roger King as passengers. The truck was specially liveried for the occasion, echoing the contents of a letter handed into Downing Street:"Fuel duty — a tax too far".
Earlier in the day Smith had talked to several radio stations about the 1.28p/lit rise, branding it "a dumb deal". "For an operator with 20 trucks that 'extra' could amount to £20,000 a year," she added. "Small wonder we're angry Fuel costs for UK hauliers have widened yet further when compared with foreign operators rampaging across the UK fuelled with diesel some 25p/lit cheaper."
Speaking at the RI-Lks annual lunch, she also re-iterated its demand to Prime Minister Tony Blair, asking for UK hauliers lobe treated in the same way as their French competitors.
"We understand the French government has increased diesel tax by 2p/lit, but this will not apply to trucks." Blair was told."The French government clearly understands the importance of keeping road transport costs down; if they understand this. why doesn't our own government?"