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| Lorry fuel price demo hits roads | Lorry fuel price demo hits roads |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of lorry drivers angry at soaring fuel prices are protesting in London and along the M4 in Wales. | Hundreds of lorry drivers angry at soaring fuel prices are protesting in London and along the M4 in Wales. |
| A convoy of trucks closed the A40 into the city as hauliers parked up and went to join a rally in central London before petitioning 10 Downing Street. | A convoy of trucks closed the A40 into the city as hauliers parked up and went to join a rally in central London before petitioning 10 Downing Street. |
| In Wales, a two-mile line of lorries crawled along the M4 towards Cardiff. | In Wales, a two-mile line of lorries crawled along the M4 towards Cardiff. |
| Hauliers say diesel prices topping 120p a litre, plus the government's planned 2p fuel tax rise, will drive firms "to the wall". They want a fuel tax rebate. | Hauliers say diesel prices topping 120p a litre, plus the government's planned 2p fuel tax rise, will drive firms "to the wall". They want a fuel tax rebate. |
| Welsh protest leader Mike Greene told the BBC that hauliers would give the prime minister seven days to cut fuel duty by between 20 and 25p per litre, or they would blockade refineries and ports. | Welsh protest leader Mike Greene told the BBC that hauliers would give the prime minister seven days to cut fuel duty by between 20 and 25p per litre, or they would blockade refineries and ports. |
| The protest comes as Chancellor Alistair Darling prepares for a meeting next week with Labour MPs concerned about plans to increase road tax on older, more polluting vehicles. | The protest comes as Chancellor Alistair Darling prepares for a meeting next week with Labour MPs concerned about plans to increase road tax on older, more polluting vehicles. |
| Forty-two MPs have signed a Commons motion asking the government to reconsider. See how UK petrol and diesel prices have risen | Forty-two MPs have signed a Commons motion asking the government to reconsider. See how UK petrol and diesel prices have risen |
| Organisers hoped 600 to 1,000 lorries would take part in the protest, which closed the eastbound A40 between the northern roundabout A3220 junction and Paddington from 1000 BST until 1600 BST. | Organisers hoped 600 to 1,000 lorries would take part in the protest, which closed the eastbound A40 between the northern roundabout A3220 junction and Paddington from 1000 BST until 1600 BST. |
| About 90 lorries set off from Kent early on Tuesday morning, about 150 from Essex, 100 from Bedfordshire and more from other parts of the country. | About 90 lorries set off from Kent early on Tuesday morning, about 150 from Essex, 100 from Bedfordshire and more from other parts of the country. |
| Haulage company boss Peter Carroll said that by noon about 300 lorries had arrived. Police put the figure at 200. | Haulage company boss Peter Carroll said that by noon about 300 lorries had arrived. Police put the figure at 200. |
| At about 1400BST, a group of protesters handed a petition to Downing Street. UK'S CHEAPEST & MOST EXPENSIVE FUEL Cheapest unleaded: 108.9p (Mansfield) Most expensive unleaded: 126.9p (Newport, Isle of Wight) Cheapest diesel: 115.9p (Banff) Most expensive diesel: 140.9p (Isle of Mull) Latest figures from PetrolPrices.com Car tax rates guideIn pictures: Fuel protests | |
| Speaking outside No 10, haulier Alex Ovenden said: "We're here today out of desperation to try and save another UK industry. | Speaking outside No 10, haulier Alex Ovenden said: "We're here today out of desperation to try and save another UK industry. |
| "We really do not know what to do about the rising oil prices other than petition the chancellor to reduce fuel duty." | "We really do not know what to do about the rising oil prices other than petition the chancellor to reduce fuel duty." |
| Police intervention | Police intervention |
| In Wales, police say about 100 lorries took part in a 60-mile convoy protest from Cross Hands, near Llanelli. Other reports put the figure at about 170. | In Wales, police say about 100 lorries took part in a 60-mile convoy protest from Cross Hands, near Llanelli. Other reports put the figure at about 170. |
| They had planned to hand in a petition to the Welsh assembly at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. | They had planned to hand in a petition to the Welsh assembly at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. |
| But after police restrictions and instructions to abandon a "go-slow", 50 vehicles headed to a service station west of the city to give it to Conservative assembly members. | But after police restrictions and instructions to abandon a "go-slow", 50 vehicles headed to a service station west of the city to give it to Conservative assembly members. |
| The rest of the convoy was turned back.HAVE YOUR SAY We have a worldwide reputation for being an expensive country for fuel. No wonder they call us 'treasure island' Adrian, Chester Send us your comments | The rest of the convoy was turned back.HAVE YOUR SAY We have a worldwide reputation for being an expensive country for fuel. No wonder they call us 'treasure island' Adrian, Chester Send us your comments |
| Martin Palmer, from one of the event's organisers MJ Palmer Transport, said he felt the police had been "heavy-handed". | Martin Palmer, from one of the event's organisers MJ Palmer Transport, said he felt the police had been "heavy-handed". |
| Fellow protester Martin Arthur, who owns a haulage firm in Usk, Monmouthshire, said: "We have to make ourselves heard or people will keep walking all over us. | Fellow protester Martin Arthur, who owns a haulage firm in Usk, Monmouthshire, said: "We have to make ourselves heard or people will keep walking all over us. |
| "People will have to stop working sooner or later because there's no point working for a loss." | "People will have to stop working sooner or later because there's no point working for a loss." |
| 'Drowning' | 'Drowning' |
| Organisers from protest group Transaction 2007 led a lunch-time rally at London's Marble Arch. They said the price of fuel was "rocketing" and the government had the power to act, but was not listening. | Organisers from protest group Transaction 2007 led a lunch-time rally at London's Marble Arch. They said the price of fuel was "rocketing" and the government had the power to act, but was not listening. |
| Mr Carroll said: "We are being murdered and you would not walk past a drowning man." | Mr Carroll said: "We are being murdered and you would not walk past a drowning man." |
| The industry says fuel bill rises mean many UK companies will go to the wall. While the government cannot control global oil prices, hauliers want an "essential user" duty rebate on fuel of between 20p and 25p a litre to ease competition with foreign haulage companies. | The industry says fuel bill rises mean many UK companies will go to the wall. While the government cannot control global oil prices, hauliers want an "essential user" duty rebate on fuel of between 20p and 25p a litre to ease competition with foreign haulage companies. |
| "The government gives the coach companies an essential user rebate and if they're essential users so are we," Mr Carroll said. | "The government gives the coach companies an essential user rebate and if they're essential users so are we," Mr Carroll said. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Aerial footage of the protest | Aerial footage of the protest |
| Commons Transport Committee chairwoman, Louise Ellman MP said ministers should acknowledge widespread concerns over soaring fuel costs but not be forced into policy decisions by protests. | Commons Transport Committee chairwoman, Louise Ellman MP said ministers should acknowledge widespread concerns over soaring fuel costs but not be forced into policy decisions by protests. |
| "Everybody is feeling the impact of the increased cost of living," she said. "That's something the government will have to think about." | "Everybody is feeling the impact of the increased cost of living," she said. "That's something the government will have to think about." |
| LONDON CONVOYS Trucks from Cowbit, Lincolnshire head to A40 in London via M1, A406 and Hanger Lane GyratoryTrucks from M2 Medway Services, Kent head to A40 in London via Vauxhall Bridge, Grosvenor Road, Chelsea Embankment, Finborough Road, Warwick Road, Holland Road and West Cross Route (A3220)Coaches take drivers from parking on A40 to 1130 BST Marble Arch rallyAll vehicles supposed to leave A40 by 1530 BST A Treasury spokesman said the government understood businesses and families were "feeling the pressure from high fuel prices". | |
| But they said the "immediate priority" was to encourage oil-producing countries to increase output, that a 2p-per-litre fuel duty increase had been put back from April to October and fuel duty was "still 11% below its 1999 level, in real terms". | But they said the "immediate priority" was to encourage oil-producing countries to increase output, that a 2p-per-litre fuel duty increase had been put back from April to October and fuel duty was "still 11% below its 1999 level, in real terms". |
| The government is also under fire over plans to increase road tax for vehicles registered since 2001 that emit higher levels of pollutants. | The government is also under fire over plans to increase road tax for vehicles registered since 2001 that emit higher levels of pollutants. |
| Owners of the most polluting cars could face a rise of as much as £200 - a move the Conservatives say will hit poorer drivers hardest. | Owners of the most polluting cars could face a rise of as much as £200 - a move the Conservatives say will hit poorer drivers hardest. |
| Some Labour MPs have signed a motion calling on the Treasury to think again about the retrospective aspects of the policy that they say is "unfair" to people who have already bought their cars. | Some Labour MPs have signed a motion calling on the Treasury to think again about the retrospective aspects of the policy that they say is "unfair" to people who have already bought their cars. |
| Business Secretary John Hutton told the BBC the chancellor was "listening to what people are saying about vehicle excise duty". | Business Secretary John Hutton told the BBC the chancellor was "listening to what people are saying about vehicle excise duty". |
| His comments came ahead of his speech about alternative power sources at the British Atlantic Survey meeting in Cambridge later on Tuesday. | His comments came ahead of his speech about alternative power sources at the British Atlantic Survey meeting in Cambridge later on Tuesday. |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw told the BBC he "fully understood" the hauliers' concerns, but "government revenues have to come from somewhere". | Justice Secretary Jack Straw told the BBC he "fully understood" the hauliers' concerns, but "government revenues have to come from somewhere". |
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