73% of Scots back repeat of fuel protests

Nearly three-quarters of Scots would support a repeat of this month's fuel protests if the Government fails to cut prices, according to a poll.

A total of 73% of people would back hauliers if they returned to the blockades, according to a survey carried out by System Three for the Herald newspaper.

Protesters gave ministers a 60-day deadline to cut fuel duty when they called off their blockades earlier this month at the end of a week of action which saw petrol pumps across Britain run dry.

According to the latest poll, 77% of women and 69% of men said they would support further direct action, with 19% of people against further blockades.

Conservative voters were most likely to be behind the hauliers, with 82% favouring a return to the blockades, compared to 62% of Labour supporters and 80% of prospective SNP voters.

Mark Williams, a spokesman for the protesters who blockaded the Grangemouth oil refinery, said: "It just goes to show this is a people's protest.

"Obviously we are very pleased with these results and will be taking them into account when we're planning our next move."

The poll came on the same day that oil companies, unions and police forces signed a memorandum of understanding with Home Secretary Jack Straw agreeing to work together to safeguard oil supplies in the event of further protests.

The hauliers' deadline is due to run out on November 13.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_71885.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 29, 2000