Wednesday, 18 October, 2000, 22:25 GMT 23:25 UK Fuel protesters threaten mass rally

Truckers and farmers demanding cuts in fuel tax are threatening to stage a mass rally of up to one million protesters in London. Blockades and pickets last month brought the country close to a standstill and the protesters' 60 day deadline of 13 November is looming.

I could see the blockades being considerably more extended Fuel protester Paul Ashley The protesters outlined demands such as cuts in fuel tax and a new system of charging foreign trucks to the chancellor on Wednesday.

But while some threaten a wider scale protest if their demands are not met, other leaders have called for a mass rally.

Chairman of the People's Fuel Lobby, David Hanley, told hauliers and farmers in Gateshead the oil refinery pickets and traffic chaos would not work again.

Capital rally

He said the campaign should follow the lead of the Countryside Alliance rallies over rural issues and gather one million protesters in Hyde Park.

If the government did not respond within the timescale, he said, then ministers would certainly listen to the voice of fuel protesters rallying in the capital. Protesters' demands 15p a litre off diesel duty Cheaper tax discs for all 'Brit disc' for all lorries

"The first time anybody does anything to do with the National Grid or railways that can cause serious injury or death I will be walking up their garden and knocking on their door," he said.

But another leading figure in the recent protests, Paul Ashley, has suggested a repeat of more direct action.

"I could see the blockades being considerably more extended and considerably more spread through the country," Mr Ashley told the BBC Six O'Clock News.

Demands

On Wednesday, the Freight Transport Association and the National Farmers' Union asked Gordon Brown for a 15 pence per litre reduction in the tax on diesel for lorries.

The Countryside Alliance mobilised mass support

They also called on the chancellor to provide cheaper tax discs for all motorists and higher charges for foreign lorries in Britain.

David Green, of the FTA, said the government should acknowledge that the tax on diesel in the UK is twice the European average.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The government is listening to a variety of different groups on this issue."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_979000/979136.stm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 18, 2000