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Hauliers protesting at fuel cost Hauliers protesting at fuel cost
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of lorry drivers angry at soaring fuel prices are travelling in convoy to protests in central London and along the M4 in Wales.Hundreds of lorry drivers angry at soaring fuel prices are travelling in convoy to protests in central London and along the M4 in Wales.
Hauliers say diesel prices topping 120p a litre, plus a planned 2p fuel tax rise, will drive firms "to the wall".Hauliers say diesel prices topping 120p a litre, plus a planned 2p fuel tax rise, will drive firms "to the wall".
Protesters are demanding an "essential user" duty rebate for HGV drivers.Protesters are demanding an "essential user" duty rebate for HGV drivers.
It comes as Chancellor Alistair Darling prepares to meet Labour MPs concerned about plans to increase road tax on older, more polluting vehicles.It comes as Chancellor Alistair Darling prepares to meet 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.Forty-two MPs have signed a Commons motion asking the government to reconsider.
See how UK petrol and diesel prices have risen See how UK petrol and diesel prices have risen
A convoy of lorries from the M2 in Kent has begun to make its way to central London before handing a petition to 10 Downing Street. Amid horn beeps, convoys of lorries from the M2 in Kent and other sites around the UK are making their way to central London before drivers hand a petition to 10 Downing Street.
A second group of hauliers will be driving from the M25 London orbital through the centre of the city to Whitehall. Motorists have been warned to expect major delays, with the eastbound A40 due to be closed for much of the day as hundreds of drivers head from the M25 through the city to Whitehall.
Motorists have been warned to expect major delays, with the eastbound A40 due to be closed for much of the day.
UK'S CHEAPEST & MOST EXPENSIVE FUEL Cheapest unleaded: 107.9p (Gateshead) Most expensive unleaded: 125p (Northampton) Cheapest diesel: 117.9p (Mansfield) Most expensive diesel: 138p (Hexham) Latest figures from PetrolPrices.comUK'S CHEAPEST & MOST EXPENSIVE FUEL Cheapest unleaded: 107.9p (Gateshead) Most expensive unleaded: 125p (Northampton) Cheapest diesel: 117.9p (Mansfield) Most expensive diesel: 138p (Hexham) Latest figures from PetrolPrices.com
In Wales, about 100 drivers were due to take part in a 60-mile convoy protest from Cross Hands, near Llanelli, to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, where they too will hand in a petition. In Wales, about 100 drivers began a 60-mile convoy protest from Cross Hands, near Llanelli, to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, where they too will hand in a petition.
Mike Presneill, of Transaction 2007, who is helping organise the Kent to London protest, said: "Fuel is rocketing. The government has the power to act but appears not to be listening. Hundreds of UK transport firms are being driven to the wall." Their convoy was delayed by police issuing public order notices to drivers instructing them to drive at at least 40mph, depending on conditions, and to keep to the inside lane of the motorway.
Mike Presneill, of protest group Transaction 2007, said: "Fuel is rocketing. The government has the power to act but appears not to be listening. Hundreds of UK transport firms are being driven to the wall."
Haulage company boss Peter Carroll, another of the protest organisers, told BBC News: "The main thing we're hoping to achieve is to get the government to recognise that this isn't a problem, or even a big problem, it's an absolute crisis."Haulage company boss Peter Carroll, another of the protest organisers, told BBC News: "The main thing we're hoping to achieve is to get the government to recognise that this isn't a problem, or even a big problem, it's an absolute crisis."
With each lorry now costing £1,000 per week in fuel, he said hundreds of UK companies would go out of business if nothing was done, to be replaced by continental hauliers using cheaper fuel from abroad. With each lorry now costing £1,000 per week in fuel and bills up £40,000 a month at his firm since last October, he said hundreds of UK companies would go out of business if nothing was done and they would be replaced by continental hauliers using cheaper fuel from abroad.
'Inflationary pressure' Protest organiser Peter Carroll on the need to protest
He said drivers recognised the government could not control global oil prices but said an "essential user" duty rebate of between 20p and 25p per litre for lorries would help firms compete on a "level playing field" with foreign hauliers.He said drivers recognised the government could not control global oil prices but said an "essential user" duty rebate of between 20p and 25p per litre for lorries would help firms compete on a "level playing field" with foreign hauliers.
Mr Carroll said a similar rebate scheme was already operating in the UK for bus companies.Mr Carroll said a similar rebate scheme was already operating in the UK for bus companies.
He added: "If they do that, we keep in business, we continue to pay our taxes and play our part in UK business and also the government wins because we take some of the inflationary pressure out of the economy.He added: "If they do that, we keep in business, we continue to pay our taxes and play our part in UK business and also the government wins because we take some of the inflationary pressure out of the economy.
"Because all the time that our fuel is going up, we're trying to push those costs onto our customers, who in turn try to push it onto members of the general public.""Because all the time that our fuel is going up, we're trying to push those costs onto our customers, who in turn try to push it onto members of the general public."
Tax protest
The government is coming under mounting pressure over fuel prices and its plans to increase road tax for vehicles registered since 2001 which emit higher levels of pollutants.The government is coming under mounting pressure over fuel prices and its plans to increase road tax for vehicles registered since 2001 which emit higher levels of pollutants.
Owners of the most polluting cars could face a tax rise of as much as £200 - a move which the Conservatives say will hit poorer drivers hardest.Owners of the most polluting cars could face a tax rise of as much as £200 - a move which 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.
The increase is unfair to people who bought their cars a year ago, not knowing that the government was going to put that road tax on Ronnie Campbell, MP
One Labour MP says the government risks alienating "Mondeo man" - the name given in the past to middle-income voters Labour needed to woo if it wanted to defeat the Conservatives.One Labour MP says the government risks alienating "Mondeo man" - the name given in the past to middle-income voters Labour needed to woo if it wanted to defeat the Conservatives.
Environment minister Joan Ruddock has said the government "could not lose sight of the environment agenda", but Business Secretary John Hutton told the BBC the chancellor was "listening to what people are saying about vehicle excise duty".Environment minister Joan Ruddock has said the government "could not lose sight of the environment agenda", but Business Secretary John Hutton told the BBC the chancellor was "listening to what people are saying about vehicle excise duty".
"We are trying to get this balance right between encouraging choices to go green but not hammering people," he said."We are trying to get this balance right between encouraging choices to go green but not hammering people," he said.
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.
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Are you protesting in Wales or central London? Have you been affected by any of the issues in this story? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you protesting in Wales or central London? Have you been affected by any of the issues in this story? Send us your comments using the form below.
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