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| Truckers in diesel price protest | Truckers in diesel price protest |
| (2 days later) | |
| Lorry drivers protesting against the "rocketing" price of diesel have arrived in a convoy in central London. | Lorry drivers protesting against the "rocketing" price of diesel have arrived in a convoy in central London. |
| About 65 vehicles converged in Park Lane in protest at a 30% rise in diesel pump prices in 12 months. | About 65 vehicles converged in Park Lane in protest at a 30% rise in diesel pump prices in 12 months. |
| The organisers presented a coffin to the Houses of Parliament to represent hundreds of haulage firms they claim have gone bankrupt as a result. | The organisers presented a coffin to the Houses of Parliament to represent hundreds of haulage firms they claim have gone bankrupt as a result. |
| It follows a 48-hour strike at Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland in a dispute over pension changes. | It follows a 48-hour strike at Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland in a dispute over pension changes. |
| Tuesday's protest has been organised by TransAction 2007, one of the groups behind fuel protests in 2000 which caused 90% of petrol stations to run dry. | Tuesday's protest has been organised by TransAction 2007, one of the groups behind fuel protests in 2000 which caused 90% of petrol stations to run dry. |
| The convoy started off in Kent and headed up M2 motorway into the capital. | The convoy started off in Kent and headed up M2 motorway into the capital. |
| Truckers take their protest to Parliament | |
| Organisers said fuel for a typical articulated lorry now costs up to £1,000 per week. | Organisers said fuel for a typical articulated lorry now costs up to £1,000 per week. |
| The problem was exacerbated by foreign hauliers who arrive in the UK "full to the brim with cheaper fuel", spokesman Mike Presneill said. | The problem was exacerbated by foreign hauliers who arrive in the UK "full to the brim with cheaper fuel", spokesman Mike Presneill said. |
| "Our industry is the lifeblood of the UK economy," he added. | "Our industry is the lifeblood of the UK economy," he added. |
| "Fuel is rising on a daily basis. It is now at levels that are bankrupting hundreds of small and medium-sized haulage companies." | "Fuel is rising on a daily basis. It is now at levels that are bankrupting hundreds of small and medium-sized haulage companies." |
| First to arrive was driver Mick Clifton, 37, who works for the JS Cook company based at Moulton Chapel in Lincolnshire. | First to arrive was driver Mick Clifton, 37, who works for the JS Cook company based at Moulton Chapel in Lincolnshire. |
| We just don't know whether our jobs are going to be safe Driver Mick Clifton | We just don't know whether our jobs are going to be safe Driver Mick Clifton |
| He said: "The price of fuel at the moment is ridiculous. We just don't know whether our jobs are going to be safe. | He said: "The price of fuel at the moment is ridiculous. We just don't know whether our jobs are going to be safe. |
| "If Gordon Brown doesn't do something about this soon he'll be out of office." | "If Gordon Brown doesn't do something about this soon he'll be out of office." |
| The Road Haulage Association's chief executive Roger King has urged the government to abandon plans to raise fuel duty by 2p next October. | The Road Haulage Association's chief executive Roger King has urged the government to abandon plans to raise fuel duty by 2p next October. |
| He said: "We support a peaceful and legal protest and that is what this is. We think such an exercise helps underscore the real feelings hauliers have." | He said: "We support a peaceful and legal protest and that is what this is. We think such an exercise helps underscore the real feelings hauliers have." |
| Protesters have also handed a letter summarising their grievances to the Houses of Parliament, together with a copy of the 2005 Burns Inquiry. | Protesters have also handed a letter summarising their grievances to the Houses of Parliament, together with a copy of the 2005 Burns Inquiry. |
| The independent inquiry into the effect of fuel taxation found that the level of diesel duty in the UK was higher than the average EU rate. | The independent inquiry into the effect of fuel taxation found that the level of diesel duty in the UK was higher than the average EU rate. |