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Should We Support The Fuel Protests?
By Nic Cicutti
Jun 12, 11:41 AM
In recent weeks, there have been several attempts to recreate the farmers’ and lorry drivers’ fuel protests that nearly brought down Tony Blair’s government back in 2000. Next month, around 300 lorries are expected to converge on central London, while the Road Haulage Association may hold a mass rally at the same time.
One of the protestors’ key demands is that the government scraps its proposed 2p rise in fuel tax later this year. It looks as if this particular demand will be met: The Chancellor has been making noises suggesting he will back down on this issue.
To be honest, I’m totally in two minds about these fuel protests. On the one hand, the past few months’ fuel rises are shocking. For the first time ever, I find myself only part-filling our car’s tank with diesel and I’ve stopped all non-essential car journeys – the half-mile trip to the video shop and back being a classic example!
Maybe that’s a good thing. For too long, people like me have just tended to get into a car and drive whenever we wanted, without thinking of the consequences.
Now, I find myself deliberately keeping to a maximum 75mph upper limit on the motorway in order to cut fuel consumption. It works too: I can get 10% more miles per tank just by being a bit more sensible with the throttle. Or I whip my old Lambretta out of the garage and use that instead: 70 miles per gallon can’t be wrong.
Of course, there will be many people for whom a car, van, truck or tractor is an essential work tool.
But perhaps we are aiming at the wrong target. The reality is that the price of crude oil today is no longer related simply to supply and demand. It’s controlled by an elaborate financial market system as well as by the four major Anglo-American oil companies. Some people are suggesting that much as 60% of today’s crude oil price is pure speculation, driven by large trader banks and hedge funds.
Meanwhile, some of the oil companies are using the fantastic profits they make off us not to engage in new exploration that will maintain cheap supplies but to boost their own shares.
BP, for example, is blaming high taxes in producing countries for fuel price hikes. Yet it makes no mention of the whopping $50bn (£25.33bn) it has spent buying back its own shares over recent years – money which could have been invested in new output.
My gut tells me I should be supporting the fuel protests. But my head tells me people like Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling, hapless individuals though they both are, are the wrong targets for our protests. What do you think?
User Comments
anthony taylor 2 December 2008, 20:04
I agree with others it is time to unite and protest against fuel prices and this freebee grabing goverment. What is needed is a boycot of the pumps and our jobs they would lose billions and MARCH on downing street and parliment as a united country like they do in the rest of the world and give this goverment a bloody nose that it will never recover from and get our rights of a nation back from the eu and the john lewis brigade. THE TIME HAS COME LETS MARCH LETS MARCH POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Hud, West Base. 1 December 2008, 19:15
Nic Cicutti ,
Do you now get the idea what other peple think ????
(your original question)
raymond john reid 11 November 2008, 16:55
I HAVE ONLY ONE THING TO SAY ABOUT FUEL TAX , GET IT DOWN TO THE SAME LEVELS AS THE REST OF EUROPE AND GIVE US A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD TO BE COMPETETIVE WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS THROUGHOUT EUORPE,ALSO AS A P.S. CAP THE PRICE AT THE PUMPS.
roy 20 October 2008, 18:45
I thought we were supposed to be one big European nation,if so why is it in this country we pay the most for almost everything. France and Germany etc, must crying with laughter not only do we accept everyone in to this country we pay them for the privilege even if they work or not. So until our government get some b?????s ,and tells Europe to get lost we are stuffed.
Mike Ward 10 October 2008, 09:58
The Fuel Price Saga is and has been for many years a Government (Irrespective of what Party) extortion policy. This saga is yet another method of Government’s policy to create Poverty within our great nation, and WHAT FOR ? so that when an election is around the corner, they try to better things and undo what they have already done in order to secure Votes.
The fuel price saga should be condemned and not enough is done to put pressure on the government to stop them from ripping off our hard working nation. I would challenge any parliamentary member face to face in public on the many issus that they have created of poverty and ripping our people off.
So yes lets support condemnation of the fuel pricing but in a positive way, everyone – Business, Private and Commercial drivers refuse to fuel up until the government takes heed and reduces the extortionate taxes that they are applying in order to line their own pockets and give our money to other countries. ( this statement is in no way meant as ratialist, disrespectfull, or prejudice )
ken bennett 5 August 2008, 20:45
it seems as if mr brown is on another planet, to live as most of us have to on a weekly wage when things like food and fuel go sky high its a drain and all kind of things you liked to do stops thats why shops pubs all types of entertainment gets put on hold, now with gas & elecric going even higher, I think its about time he started thinking about the people who live here not feeding our taxes to other countries, get your own place in order first then give some away
the sooner we have a general election the sooner I will be pleased then he can see what the public really thinks
ken
coombs 12 July 2008, 19:42
David Coombs 12 June 08
‘Fraid Not’ Tax and Duty account for over 80% of the cost of a Ltr of fuel. To forgo the 2p tax rise is an insult. This greedy goverment should slash these taxes. Don’t they take enough of our money already.
Net 9 July 2008, 19:39
LPG Is 60p a litre & it costs around £1,000-£1,400 to convert your car, I know this is not the answer for everyone but it makes you think….On average you could get your money back within 8-12 months depending on your useage & mileage. We all travel to petrol stations & begrudge paying the high prices at the pumps but everyone does because they feel they have no other option. Has anyone thought that if we all boycott certain petrol companies on a weekly basis that they would have to do something about reducing the cost. If everyone in England say for instance does not use BP garages for a week or two it would cause them to panic. They would have to bring down the prices to bring the customers back. The next week Shell etc…. wouldnt that be a great way to get our own back!!!
lee 9 July 2008, 15:59
thing is with big buisness or the government if they give you somat back (14%payrise) they take it back from the other people and our oh so good leader of this great nation is no different he can cut tax on fuel but then somat somewhere else will go up like tax on pensions or out of our pay packets. i can see why thiers 1000’s of people emigrating every year get off that sinkin ship. in short take from peter to pay paul while we bend over n take up the tail pipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Tindale 6 July 2008, 00:37
john tindale
yes i think we pay to much for fuel trouble is all the politicians live in the caccoon that is london with all the public transport etc etc
Paul 26 June 2008, 14:05
Tax on fuel is just too high.People complain about the payrise given to tanker drivers saying that it is too much,those people should concern themselves with there own pay and try to get some more for themselves and not object to some one elses good fortune.
Dennis Price 20 June 2008, 04:55
Running a country involves using good management practices, a basic requirement of these practices is to never lose control of costs. What does our useles government do, lose control of basic costs. POWER, FUEL, WATER ,FOOD and no doubt the next item will be WAGES.
Chillibeef 18 June 2008, 15:50
I dont think the oil companies are to blame, if you think BP for example:
1 Carry out geological suveys to find oil
2 Build a Multi Million pounds oil rig and set it up in the middle of the sea
3 Get staff to and from it to operate it,
4 Get the crude oil out of the sea bed and back to land
5 Refine and make it into petrol and deisel
6 Load it on to a tanker and send it to their filling stations ready for us to buy
And they do all this for less then 50p a litre…
Add in some TAX abit of VAT and hey presto £1.30 a litre
So who really is robbing the nation blind when it comes to fuel prices ?
rhiannon 18 June 2008, 13:43
i am a district nurse i rely on my car 5 days a week to get me to patients houses and i put about £50-60 pounds a week of diesel in my car, my expenses is 9p per mile which im paid by the nhs but havnt recieved any expenses since nov07 because as my manager put it they dont have the money, so it makes me mad that these tankers can have the cheek to demand more money by going on strike when they are already paid the salary of a senior nurse manager, what would happen if nurses, doctors and healthcare workers went on strike? but we wouldnt because we have a duty of care to provide but we also have to live too!
Chris 18 June 2008, 10:18
To think you were all fooled into thinking the tanker drivers were protesting against the rise in fuel prices – now with an extra 14% in their pay packets, they can afford the price increases in fuel, food, mortgage ect……
How? They held the country to ransom and won.
How many of you working could hold the country to ransom, not many I bet, and do you think the price of fuel and food will come down, I doubt it, the fuel companies are going to get their 14% back some how.
How many of you really think that they deserved 14% while the rest of the country only got abt 3% – it’s alright for thoes earning £40,000 + a year saying good luck to them, but while most of you are struggling to pay the increases, the tanker drivers are probably already booking up their next holiday in the sun.
george murray 17 June 2008, 11:38
I blame the oil companies and the Goverment as they have done nothing to develope an alternative to petrol, as they would go out of business as everyone would be going for the alternative fuel, and the oil companies would go belly up.
Basil 17 June 2008, 10:44
The likes of Saudi arabia are making a fortune at our cost because they know they can. Perhaps someone should remind them that if it wasn’t for the likes of great Britain back in 1990 coming to their rescue when Sadam hussain invaded Kuwait in order to steal their oil and Saudi arabia was next on his list,they wouldn’t still have their oil rich kingdom. And this is the thanks we get.
Michael James Lenkowiec 17 June 2008, 09:06
This protest is a waste of time.You have not printed my suggestion.WHY?Unless we unite and support each other the corrupt government and big business will walk all over us.FIND A WAY TO UNITE>
G.Pearson 17 June 2008, 06:58
Yep, like you said Government are not to blame for rising fuel prices, though they could cut taxes….
What I would suggest to any government that no company or individual should be allowed to make more than a 50% profit on anything…. that way greedy people wont be able to be THAT greedy,../…
As for strikes… there should be more planned around the country in protest to the oil giants and blockades should be put up outside THEIR homes, shopping areas, golf courses and marina’s to ensure THEY are disrupted…
G.Pearson
steve corrigan 16 June 2008, 19:28
the country should all unite against the petrol prices it is time for the government to reduce the taxes we pay on fuel
David Robinson 16 June 2008, 16:14
Any chance of the tanker drivers gaining my support has gone after reading that a garage in devon is now charging 199.9 a litre to conserve stocks i hope you tanker drivers realise unlike you many disabled people cannot afford to go out, in fact most people cannot afford the petrol now as they say what goes around comes around 1 day WHEN YOU HAVE TO PAY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE I HOPE YOU REMEMBER THE MISERY & PROBLEMS YOU CAUSED i bet you will be among the first to complain
Michael Bodman 15 June 2008, 06:51
Hit the government where it hurts, the people of Britain need to unite all over England, Scotland and Wales and stay at home for the week. This would bring the U.K to a halt.
A large National strike with everybody from cleaners to bank managers, after all we are ALL affected by this greed and craziness.
Cars are no longer a luxury but are required so people can carry on living.
Unfortunately I don’t think this would ever happen as people just don’t seem to want to do things for themselves which is a great shame as a united voice would be heard all over the world.
We decide and choose what happens in the UK not the cronies who believe they have the right to ignore the everyday person as it does not suit their bank account statements.
Everybody should pay taxes, but fair taxes, the more this continues the more people will be taking money from the government via welfare instead of contributing via their income.
A slow but ever increasing snowball that we should stop now before it becomes too large and damages everything we love too much!!
PRB 15 June 2008, 06:22
As I see it, we’ve got to lay the blame utterly in the hands of the government. Fuel in the UK is actually he cheapest in Europe, but because of the punitive taxes it emerges as the most expensive. If there is all this rubbish talked about harmonising prices and costs in Europe, then why can’t fuel be the main consideration, as it affects virtually every aspect of our lives.
Adjust the fuel taxes to what our friends pay on average across Europe, and it would be so much fairer. Yes, the government loses revenue, but it can surely regain this in a number of was. I have a diesel car which cost me virtually £1500 more than the equivalent petrol engine. But psychologically I feel better off because my fuel needle stays higher longer. I have paid ‘up front’ – it my income was raised by so much, I wouldn’t notice really, but everytime I go to the pumps I do.
The other con is that diesel costs more to produce – it doesn’t – it’s cheapere than petrol elsewhere, so againit’s this lousy money-grabbing government.
And for people to tell me how to use my car – it’s none of their business if I want to use it to go 50 yards up the road! It’s my choice and that’s why I bought it – and the buses and trains in the UK are all run as in any thirld-world country. Protest, bring down the governemnet, they don’t listen, and they don’t care!
Lez 15 June 2008, 05:54
If we all stop buying off the big boys, Esso. and BP, and only buy from the supermarkets; then fuel prices would have to drop or the big boys would be out of business. Instead of blockading roads, lets face it, it hurts no-one but us; and refuse to buy from the big boys, then they have to drop their profit margin. I am disabled and can’t walk, and whilst i have a shoprider scooter, it only goes for short distances, and can only be used in dry weather, so i like others are stuck in the house with no fun. Perhaps we should all just top ourselves. lol. Sorry only joking.
James Scott 15 June 2008, 05:45
Work away I think protests should have stated over a year ago, neverming the 2p tax we should be protesting untill the tax is cut to bring it below £1.00 again
Pete Seal 15 June 2008, 03:16
Its high time that the people of this country took a stand, in the only way they can hurt the groverment and that is to bite the bullet and stop away from work for 3 days. I would think the goverment would take note of what the people are saying. Mighty fed up with how this country is being .If we vote for them surly they should do what we ask of them and not the other way round
keith 14 June 2008, 22:12
I am not one to encourage people to break the law, however we could all fill up with fuel but only pay the same as are american cousins . therefore we payed these company a fair price for there goods, it may not be what they want, but at least we have attempted to pay and not stolen it, again if we unite and do this then policies will have to change
we have been made slaves to oil and i blame goverments over the last 25 years for not finding new way to allow people to travel around. We need new fuels to power our needs.
Jock 14 June 2008, 22:07
JOCK
My home is heated by oil fired central heating.The price of heating oil has more than doubled in the last 18 months.It has risen from 30p to 65p per litre. My system burns an average of 100 litres of oil each week during the winter.This equates to £65.00 per week.I require to use my car both to get to work and also use it during work and like many people bought a diesel powered vehicle for economy reasons.
Between the rise in heating oil and the rise in diesel fuel I am really struggling to keep my head above water.
Someone in Government needs to take on the oil companys and speculators.
Peter Foster 14 June 2008, 22:05
OK Nic, so why do our cousins in the US of A pay a third of our prices for petrol? The answer is tax. Even the price of oil is calculated in US$, so why are we paying so much when the exchange rate is in our favour? Yes, there are a lot of outside influences which we have no control over but the politicions have a lot to answer for.
PS I am also a lorry driver but don’t earn anywhere near what the tanker drivers earn but good luck to them.
keith 14 June 2008, 22:00
people only worry about themselves, this is only natural. but in doing this we cannot get a united view across to business and Government. result is nothing gets done.
However if people want to get a serious message across then it will require the general population to come together, a general national strike is what’s needed.
I ask you the people reading this stop complaining in you armchairs get together in community groups contact others build on the power you have as people, people who work to provide the country with its wealth let use stop working for 1 or 2 day let the governing power know that we want change BUT we have to be TOGETHER to make our voices heard.
The Mole 14 June 2008, 21:37
LOADS OF TALK ABOUT PROTESTING< BUT I RECKON ITS JUST TALK FROM THE FRUSTRATED BRITISH PUBLIC> UNFORTUNATELY WE SEEM TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT AND TAKING IT ON THE CHIN> WHAT ABOUT GIVING A SMALL CONTRUBUTION TO THE LORRY DRIVERS AND LETTING JUST A FEW ‘BEAK DOWN’ ON SAY THE MOTOR WAYS AND A FEW MAIN ROADS. THAT WOULD JAM THE SYSTEM AND NOT COST MUCH> HEY LORRY DRIVERS< HOLD A BUCKET OUT YOUR WINDOW IF YOU WISH TO DO IT>
MARIA 14 June 2008, 21:15
WE SHOULD ALL MAKE A STAND, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! EVERYTHING IS SPIRALLING OUT OF CONTROL. UTITLIES, FOOD, TRAVEL AND THE PRICE OF PETROL/DIESEL IS NOW BEYOND RIDICULOUS, SOME OF US NEED A CAR TO GET TO WORK, AS YOU CAN’T RELY ON THE TRAINS. I TRAVELLED ON A TRAIN RECENTLY IN ITALY AND IT COST ME €3.90 TO DO A SIMILAR JOURNEY HERE IN THE UK WHICH COSTS ME £13.00.
SO NO OPTION TO USE THE CAR, BUT ITS CRIPPLING ME.
STEEVIE 14 June 2008, 21:01
I CAN’T BELIEVE THE GREED OF SOME FORECOURT OWNERS…SINCE THE SHELL DRIVER STRIKE STARTED ON FRIDAY,MY LOCAL GARGAE HAS INCREASED HIS PETROL BY 11p PER LITRE OVER A 2 DAY PERIOD (NOW AT £1.37 Per Litre AND NO DOUBT RISING). WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW HE CAN JUSTIFY THIS, HE SAID ‘YOU NEED IT SO YOU PAY FOR IT’…THE SELFISH PRAT!!!…..THEN AGAIN, I SUPPOSE HE HAS THE SAME ATTITUDE AS THE PM Mr ‘LINE MY BIG POCKETS UNTIL THE COUNTRY IS DRY’ BROWN….YEP, HE’S A PRAT TOO!!
jay..... 14 June 2008, 20:37
yes f***ing dam right when i first started to drive 8 years ago it was 79p know its £1.18,when im at work around london and kent i look at fuel prices and there all dif so how can it differ from postcode to postcode,all i hear is tax this tax that we dont earn as much as the mp“s,if you ask me spain has the right idear
Mick Roberts 14 June 2008, 20:25
I will never again vote Labour, they are for everything that is wrong. i do not mind people coming into the country, but not at this level. I have a wife and two children to support and cannot afford to live on my wages and also have mobility problems. when i applied to the council to see if i could get a council house or flat, i was told i would be waiting ten years and then another ten. TONY BLAIR buys his ??? i have lost count of his property’s eight was the last i heard. why does he and his family need all these houses? Greedy BLAIRS. I am all for bringing back hanging, especially for treason. Shame on you Tony Ten Houses, or is it now eleven.
Patrick 14 June 2008, 20:14
driving instructor here ,got 3 people on test next week ,if i dont get petrol they dont take there test and lose money for it .
wish i was making £32,ooo a year lol
if i dont get petrol i dont make a living
not nice that they can just go on strike and stop people making a living
time people should think of others ,talk more no need for strikes yet .
Gareth 14 June 2008, 19:02
Sack the strikers, move the police in to clear the picket lines and employ someone else to get the oil to the pumps.
GRAHAM NICOLL 14 June 2008, 18:59
we cant not buy fuel we need to get to work ,so why not target the big fuel companies lets boycott SHELL and BP there sales will drop,they having the power will have to do something about it .
Alaistair Tolson 14 June 2008, 18:51
It is time for action not words this government is robbing us all the oil companies are robbing us and they use the environment as an excuse if they really wanted to make a difference evry petrol station would be selling bio diesel and every town and city would have oil recycling plants making the stuff
the only way they will listen is if everybody sets a date an goes on strike not for a day but for a week ! if the entire country stopped for a week they would listen
either that or come the next election any party who says they will lower the price of fuel will get into power and that could be very dangerous as history will show you with germany extremeists told the people what they wanted to hear and the world paid the price !!
fred marshall 14 June 2008, 18:02
Not many years ago we was told to buy a diesel car for cheaper to run.Look at the price of diesal now.Every thing you look at we british pay more for than other countries , and to take how minds off it Brown comes up with by 2012 we will all be able to swim for free. Then they lose to the cons and the first thing they will say is the labour have left us in a big dept so we need to pull how belts in ha ha and with expenses they pay each other it all starts again sorry we are the mugs
Paul Cummings 14 June 2008, 17:45
High prices and yet this is not reflected in my wages. I watch every day as the petrol station located next to me increase its prices on a regular basis. Only 2 months ago it broke through the GBP barrier and today it stands at 1.32GBP Did I mention that I also spent over 2kGBP to convert my car to LPG and even the price on this is rising at a rapid rate
I support the protests wholeheartedly. Something needs to be done
barry turner 14 June 2008, 17:22
the exchequuer surely would have an income budget based upon reasonably expected tax and excise incomes at a relevant price level.
so if and when the market price exceeds these levels a downward adjustment of revenues could be made to stabilise the price to consumers.
Or is this too simple, or again am I politically niave?
ROGER REDDITCH 14 June 2008, 17:13
its not the price of petrol its the tax this unelected scots man takes with haveing to pay tax on fuel plus vat he win both ways if he dosnt put 2p a ltire he willput up vat
its about time we the tax payer says enough is enough and get him out if it means a genral stirke so be it, they then will realise that the working man (ones that pay there wages & expences for taxes groceres ect ) are not on £120,000 ayear but £25,000 if you are luky to be a trades person GET THEM OUT
tanya hutchinson 14 June 2008, 16:46
the answer to should we protest for petrol is yes!thats all i have to say.
David Robson 14 June 2008, 16:37
How can Nic Cicutti who wrote this article,Not put a lot of the blame on Gordon Brown. How much of the fuel we buy is taxed?. How much tax as he put on fuel in every budget in the years he was number 2 to Tony Blair, With another 2 Pence increase due to the budget on the way. Please do not call Gordon Brown hapless and he is the wrong target. It is due to him the price is out of control
IAN CAVANAGH 14 June 2008, 16:14
WE ARE PAYING FUEL DUTY THAT IS FAR IN EXCESS OF ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD (BBC FEB 2008) WE ARE PROPPING UP A GOVERMENT THAT PAYS PEOPLE TO SIT ON THIER BACKSIDES AND LET THOSE OF US WHO WORK HARD PAY THE PRICE. WHEN WILL PEOPLE REALISE IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THIS CORRUPT GOVERNMENT AND DEMANAD JUSTICE FOR THOSE OF US WHO GO TO WORK TO PAY TAXES. AS A PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEE, I CURRENLTY GO TO WORK TO EARN ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY BILLS AND MY TRAVEL EXPENSES TO GO WORK THE NEXT MONTH. THE GOVERNMENT HAVE REFUSED TO PAY ME AN ANNUAL INCREMENT DESPITE THIS BEING A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION AND OFFER ME A RUBBISH LESS THAN COST OF LIVING PAY RISE. TANKER DRIVERS WANT £37K TO DELIVER FUEL THAT I CANT AFFORD TO BUY ON MY SALARY…WHO ARE THE IDIOTS IN THIS COUNTRY?…I AM BEGINING TO BELEIVE IT IS THE TAX PAYING MAJORITY.
mr r glenn 14 June 2008, 14:19
yes we should protest i think we should all protest and bring the country to its knees all we are doing is working to give all our money back to greedy gets like shell and bp or and to forget fat brown
andy venthem 14 June 2008, 13:54
I think protests won’t work, i seem to remember they didn’t work in 2000 and they won’t work now, the goverment won’t lower prices because its on a nice little earner with all the tax its collecting and the companies won’t because of all money their making which mean bigger pay-outs, the best way to deal with this is to do a go slow, cut no-essential journeys and stick to the speed limit, not only will you save money but you’ll go to the petrol pumps less which will then hit both the goverment and the oil companies were it hurts, the only problem with this is we now live in a country were everyone thinks only of themselves and the goverment and oil companies know this and i’m afraid to say that unless we all and i mean ALL do something then high prices are here to stay.
Stephen 14 June 2008, 13:50
the price of petrol is becoming a joke the government is pushing us brits as far as we can go. If this were happening in america they would not take so why should we?? were being taken for a ride because of the GREEDY oil companys who think we need them where as its totally the other way round!! also by the phat cats in london as they still have done nothing. we need to stand up and make the governement change the prices other wise no one will be able to go anywhere and society as we konw it will crumble!!!!!?????
F mapp 14 June 2008, 13:18
Why is diesel more expensive the petrol. it never used to be when only commercial vehicles used diesel engines.Also why is it that airlines do not pay the same tax as road users-if you want to fly pay like everone else
Guy Andrews 14 June 2008, 13:11
I’m loaded, i do not care about the cost of petrol.
Get out there and work for a living, instead of sitting around whinging.
LES 14 June 2008, 13:01
les at leeds i think the tax on fuel is set to high if the mp,s did not rip us off with there expenses and other things they claim for then tax can be cut on a lot off things i totally agree with chris jun14, 03:38 pm how do they think people will react to all the tax we have to pay if we looked after are Owen and not all the world we will all be better off UK to stay UK (if i put down all i think i will be locked up)
chris 14 June 2008, 12:38
DEATH AND TAXES , DEATH AND TAXES
THEY GO TOGETHER SO WELL
LABOUR AND RIPP OFF BRITTAIN
karl b 14 June 2008, 12:26
the governments trying to push to see how far us brits will go. As usual we just take it on the the other cheek.
dunc 14 June 2008, 12:18
it is the oil companies that are keep the price of oil high although the government is quite happy to sit back and let them,the price of oil does not need to be so high as it doesnt actually cost much more than it did 10 years ago to extract it. we need to stop buying fuel for a few days let them watch their profits drop then see what happens. dont see why diesel is so high as you can get twice as much diesel out of one gallon of oil as you can petrol
R. Phillips 14 June 2008, 12:09
The following figures are taken from www.petrolprices.com
If a litre of Unleaded cost 115.0p, it would be split in the following way:
Petrol Duty = 50.35p
Cost Of Product = 37.35p
VAT = 17.13p
Retailer/Delivery = 10.17p
This is ridiculous. We all as motorists need to stand up to the government and the greedy oil companies.
In 1995 under the Tory government we were paying for a litre of unleaded petrol an average of 54p per litre, of which 39.4p was tax. In 1996, the last year of a Tory government, it went up to 55.8p p/l on average, of which 42.9p was tax. In 2000, during the fuel protests, the average price per litre was 76.2p, of which 58.6p was tax. 2005 bought us an average price of 91p per litre, with 60.6p of that being tax. 2007 gave us an average of 95.1p p/l and 63.7p of that was tax.
Despite the fuel escalator being abandoned in 1999, fuel prices did continue to rise rapidly, with a 2 pence a litre rise after the 2000 budget, contributing to the fuel protest. These rises were however argued by the government to be as a result of increasing oil costs rather than tax increases. This argument does hold some truth when we look at the graph above, showing that although the overall price of fuel has risen, the percentage of tax has stayed relatively constant and even dropped slightly this year.
In April 2005, tax on petrol and diesel were charged at 47.1 pence a litre which with VAT added also, the total taxation makes up a huge 69.9% of the price we paid for unleaded and 67.3% for diesel.
British drivers pay two taxes on petrol they buy at the pump and fuel campaigners complain about the fact that VAT is charged on the cost of fuel and the duty and feel it should only be calculated on the cost of the fuel for a fairer petrol price.
Duty on fuel in the UK increased again on 1 October 2007, with an increase of 2.00 pence a litre on unleaded and diesel and an even greater increase on LPG and natural gas.
If everyone here really does want to do some serious protesting about the extautionate prices we are paying then a 24 hour boycott of all petrol pumps is being arranged. This boycott is planned for Tuesday 1st July starting at 9am and going through until 9am onthe 2nd July. This is just a start. More Boycotts are planned. Please go to www.facebook.com and type “24 hour boycott of petrol pumps” into the facebook search bar. There is an event organised. Please sign up and show your support.
stu 14 June 2008, 12:07
SOON THIS COUNTRY WILL HIT A RECESSION!!!!!!!!!
the price of living is generaly spiraling out of control, especially in relation to the average wage, and below inflation pay rises, at some point people are going to stop going to the shops to buy clothing etc. due to having to penny watch, this inturn will effect the shops who depend on the public to spend, people will be laid off due to the companies not making enough profit, this will then be the start of a dark and gloomy future, the goverment needs to act now, and act fast, CUT THE TAX and stop being so greedy!!!!!!!
dale 14 June 2008, 11:55
the gouverment is making an obsean amount of money from the tax on fuel and this recent increase is putting alot of people out of buisiness . The goverment should be helping the people who work not peanalising them for it . Dont they think we pay enough tax in other areas it wouldnt suprise me if in the future they try and put a tax on us using the toilet . how wonderfull this country is ha ha NOT
Steve 14 June 2008, 11:21
If there is any redution on fuel as an outcome of planned protests it will be very short term like it was in 2000. This goverment is just one big leech on our backs. The ONLY real way we, as a nation can make the politicans sit up and take notice of our displeasure is at the next general election by not voting Labour and sending a clear message to all parties that we will no longer be ripped off and taxed to the hilt, and if you carry on to do so you will not be in power for long.
andy 14 June 2008, 11:18
yes yes yes we should all stand up as a nation and say enough. we should stand with tanker drivers and bring this dump of country to a stand still. yes it will be a hard time but the time has come to stop being bullied by this government and europe
David Robinson 14 June 2008, 11:12
I have looked at the replies here, everyboby seems to agree that we need to do something, i suggested stop buying fuel not blocking roads / oil depots, from sunday with my reasons as stated near the begining of theses comments, according to the news petrol/deisel sales have increased by 25% since this dispute started, so much for people standing together, lets not start will all the reasons why you need it, as everyboby can find some reason and for once suffer a bit of discomfort to get what we want not the goverment or the oil companys
donna 14 June 2008, 10:46
Yes we should protest against rising fuel costs but the protests that are being held this weekend are nothing to do with that!! The protests are being held by shell oil tanker drivers who are throwing thier toys out of thier prams over thier pay! They consider £36000 a year not enough!!! i have absolutley NO sympathy with them as they are holding the country to ransom to get thier own way!! I am a nurse and work twice as hard as these fools and you wont catch me striking over my rubbish pay, i chose to work in this proffession and by default accepted the salary that comes with it!! Also if we didnt have all the halfwits that go and panic buy then we would not have any shortages at all, but as usuall the minute its mentioned in the media you get all these silly people going out and filling every vheicle they can lay thier hands on to the the brim!! Dont they realise that they are just making more profit for the greedy oil companys?
June Richards 14 June 2008, 09:57
I am also self employed and drive many miles per week because of my type of work. I have mobility difficulties and my daughter has disabilities. The hike in fuel is seriously affecting us, as is the increase in energy, food and everything else. I feel like I am being robbed and that no-one is doing anything about it. I agree with the above and think we should protest but, surely, the biggest protest is at the ballot box.
tony smith 14 June 2008, 09:50
the government know that we the public will never have the courage to really protest, so they will continue to increase taxes, regardless of the words we are hearing from everyone who has contributed to this page. Our unions are not strong enough, where is the solidarity?, why are we not supporting the tanker drivers, because we are all just happy to sit back and whinge and wait for the next thing to come along to feel aggrieved about, The government really do not care about these empty gestures and never will so…………….
Stephen Woinson 14 June 2008, 09:49
Yes we should protest the Government could do more to help as well, for far too many years we have had ridiculus duty on fuel they could relax the duty for a short period until oil prices fall, they would gain a lot more support for that from the ordinary person in the street rather than getting the oil companies to try and bear the burden. I was told the other day that Gas is indexed linked to oil prices and that we buy in Gas from abroad What is that about ? This country has lost its way no wonder people are leaving in their thousands every year.
Antony Hall 14 June 2008, 09:32
Yes we should protest.The fuel rises have caused everything to go up and has dwarfed pay rises among many people,small businesses and even larger ones are being forced to the brink of closing.It’s about time the government did something for the ordinary man,after all it’s what Labour should be about ISN’T IT.
Janet Clements 14 June 2008, 09:08
The whole fuel issue impacts on the self employed too. I am a sole trader and have a mobile business. In May I increase my fees to cover some of the cost of the petrol. With the continuing rises it makes the option to raise further my fees difficult as all it will do is drive my clients to reconsider if they can afford the holistic care that I provide. Ultimately it could lead to the business failing and becoming unemployed. If government does not act to control the fuel prices I am sure that I will not be the only victim of business failure. Can government afford to loose the support of its smaler business?
J.White 14 June 2008, 09:01
What`s the good our MPs will still use their gas guzzeling cars, but then they are in a position to raise their wages to pay for the fuel no matter what the cost or what the public say or do.
Lynda Leigh 14 June 2008, 08:39
Whats the point, as the pun says!!! they have got you over a barrell, regardless of what we do, the Government will do what ever they please!!!
Tony Jackson 14 June 2008, 08:19
I Think that we need to protest, but we need to all protest together, and i mean EVERYONE who is affected by the price of fuel.
we need to set a date a month to six weeks in advance then all do some overtime,where possible,to cover the two days that we all do absolutley nothing prehaps then and only then the government will take the issue of fuel pricing seriously.
i for one am getting increasingly fed up with the way that this government just seems to be running the hard working people (& I DO INCLUDE MYSELF IN THAT) of this country into the ground right acroos the board.
IT IS TIME TO MAKE A STAND
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
paul mathias 14 June 2008, 08:04
we should do something bout the increases on fuel its getting rediculous now i think that every body that has a veical should protest may be then we get something done it not fair no more this country i was proud of but all thay seem to do these days is rip us off to keep there life style going
francis.trench 14 June 2008, 07:40
while this govenment can get us to pay for their extravagant life style, they will keep us at it. take a day off——everyone, and deprive the government of taxes for that day, they would suvive it but with a bit of luck brownie might go home to scotland
SAM 14 June 2008, 07:20
YES WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PRICE INCREASES WHICH I CONSIDER A CRIME AGAINST THE HONEST HARD WORKING PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. NOT ONLY PROTEST BUT HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS THEIR OWN POCKETS AND VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS WILLING TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE NOT ABUSE THEM.
chunk 14 June 2008, 07:16
Fuel is far to expensive. The oil companies production costs have not increased so this is just greed. There is also no threat of oil running out as there are areas of the world where oil exploration has not even begun. There is plenty of oil left. Bring on protests.
Chris 14 June 2008, 06:49
Why oh Why can’t the so called leader of the contry (that’ the Prime Minister i think!!) see what he and his (or is it ours?) government is doing to this county? Fuel costs is just the start. Wouldn’t it be possible to cap the price of petrol at say £1.00 per litre and vary the tax dependant on the cost of crude oil but the price never changing then every one would be able to budget there income to find a way of paying all the other over-inflation taxes we have to pay….
John Wyatt 14 June 2008, 06:38
Because there is no work in my area I have a 60 mile round trip to do. Diesel has risen 44p since Sept. and my earliest bus is 7.15 – none on Sundays!!! I have to leave home by 4.55 on early shift so need a car. So I have to pay these extortionate prices. £55 Billion revenue from roads – £8 Billion spent on them, we are being held to ransom. Put more on spirits and wine and possibly make VAT 10% across the board.
Mick, Essex. 14 June 2008, 06:20
Stop hiding behind your screens blowing hot air. I like the majority work hard to try and make ends meet for my family only to be kicked where it hurts in more ways than one. If your prepared to put up then shut up! Remember you do have a choice. Im with the good folk of this Country, stand up for what you beleive in and what is morally right. To many people at the top have had it to good for to long. We read comments about what the French and others do when they make a stand against what they dont agree with, well good luck to them. Thats exactly where the problem lies, stop looking as to what others do and concerntrate on what we as a Country should do. If we are not happy with the way we are being treated the do something about it!!!!!!!! Good luck to those who make a trouble free stand and show the so called people who run the Country/Economy who also say they care. Care about themselves and we have to do what they say or do we????????
mark 14 June 2008, 06:10
The war on fuel prices has started,yes i do agree we should make a stand as OUR SO GOVERNMENT are makeing alot of money on it,
They should drop the price so people can afford to run cars,vans and lorries before the country comes to a halt.let them be like ASDA and roll back the price before we find other ways to run our vehicles.
THIS COUNTRY IS BECOMING TO DEAR TO LIVE HERE
jason 14 June 2008, 05:49
yes i think we all should as the price has gone to far. it is no good just the lorrys doing it we should all get together as one and make this place look at what they are doing ,mr brown should lower the tax he takes or get rid of it for good,they have taken too much money from us for too long now it now time to act …
colin 14 June 2008, 05:43
Well i think we should use alternative fuels now! the costs on fuels like petrol will only get higher in the coming years as the resource of fuel will soon having to be stretched across the globe til there’s none left , if we dont act now ,when the fuel runs out its going to be the people everywhere around britain will have to pay the price. Driving to work, holidays could be a 10mile walk to the beach, carparks and toll booths wont be in use anymore til alternatives to fuel are found , today a 2p rise and then tomorrow it could be £2.00 pound increase. We should consider thinking about the alternative fuels and our current in use fuel and decied which is better for you, us, britain and even the world.
miranda 14 June 2008, 03:48
The true price of petrol would be an affordable if the goverment did not put so much duty on it if petrol goes up the goverment just makes more money again. It should have a flat rate. I work full time I have to drop my daughter to school club in the morning then I have only 20mins to get to work I live in a semi rural location where public transport is just not an option to get on a bus to work which is 6 miles away I would have to get 3 busses and this would take me 1.5hrs to make the 6miles to work. my husband also works in a rural location which involves driving through the country lanes to get there and there is no bus service at all. The amount of tax everyone pays in this country is disgusting I would like to know where it all goes!!
B Curran 14 June 2008, 00:16
Im a hgv driver and see more foreign vehicles paying less for fuel and are soon being able to take our work, as they can do it cheaper. Yes we are right to complain and to protest.I dont think the protests should be anywhere except for london right around the houses of Parliament and around Downing street.
So it disrupts the PM and the MP’s.Doing the drive slows around the country just effects normal working people, but effect the mp’s going to and from work, now that would help them to see whats going on.
But the best way, is to vote them out at the next election.
Julie Gent 13 June 2008, 23:41
The government take 80% of what your charged at the pump, complain to them, their the ones who are ripping us all off, petrol prices else where are NOT, what we get charged here, all this extra doe that they make goes to fund their silly schemes like east europeans/imigrants coming into our beautiful country and ruining it. I rest my case
Danna 13 June 2008, 22:34
Have a look if possible at this week’s Dispatches program. We may learn a thing or 2 why we are being taxed so harddddd! Someone has to pay, why not us mugs, yes we have a reason to protest.
david simpson 13 June 2008, 21:59
The oil companies make rediculess high profits, but what can be done that can make any diference. They are a law unto themselves, impose a windfall tax and they up their prices. Cut the fuel tax and we are taxed somewhere else. The goalposts are always being changed. The government should plough the tax made into fuel alternatives to creat a viable alternative and break the monopoly these companies have purposely manufactured. This is long term but there is not short term sollution.
Jammy dodger 13 June 2008, 21:18
why block the roads when you could just blockade petrolstations and depots to stop fuel being baught im sure the billionaire oil companies that are behind the high prices will have something to say then!
Hilary 13 June 2008, 20:57
I think that we should do some thing to cut down on the number of cars on the road. One thing would that could be done is to increase the age to drive to 21. Also Public transport should be cheaper and more reliable then we would use it more and buses and trains should run 24hrs, shops have to open longer but many staff can not get into work without cars because there is no public transport before seven in morning and after ten at night. As for the fuel protest, the Goverment arn’t worried as I suspect they dont pay for their personnel fuel as they get that free as well as all their other freebies reported recently!
liam 13 June 2008, 20:40
i believe if we just stop paying for fuel copletely and just walk the prices will drop radically. atm the prices are getting higher not just because of tax, but because companies like bp,shell and esso know we will become panic buyers so they hike up the price to hike up the profits. im walking everywhere within 10 miles from sunday and so should you!!!
Leona 13 June 2008, 20:40
And while I am at it the goverment are killing their country trying to make the money to keep all the immingrants that they have let in. We have had 115 new houses built near us and 70% are going to the immigrants. That is where your tax on fuel is going, because the immigrants have not been here long enough to pay towards new houses. But they do claim Child Tax credit and Child benefit for families that are not even here. The goverment is a con. This country will die and other countries ie poland rumania etc will flourish.
Leona 13 June 2008, 20:32
GET ON THE PRIME MINISTERS WEBSITE AND SIGN ALL THE PETITIONS ON THERE TO DO WITH ECONOMY AND FUEL. YOU CAN EVEN START YOUR OWN.
Mark 13 June 2008, 20:00
Whats the point of Striking over the 2p increase in October. My local garage increases its price by 2p a week at the moment anyway. So much so.. that another 2p increase will go unoticed…
paul johnson 13 June 2008, 19:55
yes we need to all pull together and close the contry down for a week
and see what happens the french do it and it seems to work
we are to soft it is just amatter of time until someone walks into
a dole office and says they can not afford to work
Allan Fordyce 13 June 2008, 19:25
Yes we should protest as the goverment need to be aware that they cannot stand on the british public.The tax on fuel is shockingly high!
glynn 13 June 2008, 19:09
Protest to get fuel prices down now but in the long term attitudes are going to have to change. This is the beginning of the end for the oil-based economy. People’s driving habits say it all. SLOW DOWN AND SAVE FUEL.
The car industry has only now begun to respond far too late as are changes to the tax regime to force economical and cleaner engines to be developed.
This is also the end of the global village so a return to supporting local economies and not competing with child labour economies can only be a good thing. Good riddance to greedy multinational companies.
Unknown 13 June 2008, 18:43
i think we must protest this is due to the fact that everything has increased. such as crisp which were 50p now they are 56p. the government is getting enough money what do they do to the money they get that is my question. im a 18 yr old in full time education and working 30 hours a week to support my dads finance problems. but at this rate what can you do in future if prices increase by another 15%-20%.
Mark Freeston 13 June 2008, 17:29
If the government could show us that they are on our side (cut fuel duty) then perhaps we could all focus on the oil cartels over seas. Fixing prices is illigal and by limiting supply as an entire unit, they are surely breaking the law. Perhaps all world leaders should agree on a standard tax above say $100million @ 60% for instance, the oil companies could then focus their profits on finding new resources.
hayden d 13 June 2008, 17:24
the sooner the people of this country start to protest about all rising prices the sooner our wages will go towards giving us a better standard living, which has fallen.we know need a subsantial rise in wages, to put the clock back 6 months. can,t we kick out this government and vote in some one new,who will look after us, and not rob us blind.
Gary 13 June 2008, 16:35
One comment here from William Stuart about not using the big companys like BP Shell etc, and use supermarkets for fuel. Iam a tanker driver and out of our terminal ? , BP, Shell, Total, Tesco, Asda, Morrison,Sainsbury’s, and many more all use the same refinary, supermarkets rely big oil company’s to supply their fuel because they don’t have their own , it’s all the same petrol but on different fore courts and livery. The only people to blame for the mess in this country is the greedy money wasting government , who have taxed our fuel to extorionate amounts for so long they can’t do without it
David 13 June 2008, 16:26
Play the goverment at its own game, buy less petrol so less tax for them, ive just changed cars from a mazda 3 to a peugeot 107, 60 mpg, only 35 quid road tax and can drive into london for free, the car almost pays for itself, when at home only turn the heating on when you really need it, i now turn off lights when i leave a room and trust me you can save a lot of money. its your money so lets stop this money grabbing goverment getting their hands on it, at the end of the day we all need fuel its something we cant do without but we can hurt this goverment if we all buy less.
theresa 13 June 2008, 16:24
i work in a petrol station and witness the publics reaction daily. now is the time to put a stop to these ridiculous price hikes, i cant see any justification for the somtimes twice a week rises. Now would be a good time to strike as the esso/shell strike is underway and it would cause maximum impact.
Sheriff Pickering 13 June 2008, 16:20
Should we support the fuel protesters? Of course we should! We are supposed to part of the European Union and yet we pay the highest price for our fuel. The problem with Britain is that the people do not know how to stand up and say enough is enough!!. I say that it’s about time we showed this government the motorists are not an unlimited resource that can be just tapped in to when things are going wrong. We pay excessive Vehicle Excise Duty, drive on the worst roads imaginable and are expected to pay 73% tax on our gasoline. Please britain stand up and speak as one. We desreve to be treated as an equal not as an unlimited bank account.
nick 13 June 2008, 16:17
come on everybody lets protest and see how mr brown likes it being put down because that’s what he doing to us lets tell him what we want.
LORRAINE BARNINGHAM S-O-T 13 June 2008, 16:06
I AGREE LETS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, WE SHOULD ALL STOP USING IT, DONT BUY IT, WE SHOULD SET UP INTERNET MESSAGE, BRITAIN FULL STRIKE FROM MIDNIGHT SUNDAY FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES, IT WOULD COST THEM MILLIONS IN REVENUE, LETS TURN THE TABLES, COME ON EVERY ONE DO IT !!!!!!!!!!
simon 13 June 2008, 15:52
the trouble with boycotting the big companys is that it will not make a blind bit of difference who do the supermarkets buy their fuel from they don’t produce it. they have to buy it from the refineries who are owned by bp and shell so they are laughing all the way to the bank but we should protest and maybe if we bring the country to a halt the goverment might listen but i would not hold out much hope they just dont seem to care
sarah 13 June 2008, 15:24
i work in a petrol station, and many customers complain about the price of fuel,so i agree that we should protest.
Kevin 13 June 2008, 15:16
I need my car as i am disabled and YES we should protest the price of fuel is ridiculous,
michelle totten 13 June 2008, 15:14
yes i think the country should come to a stand still the fuel costs and other costs have gone soring through the roof ,but for young familys like myself that dont earn much are struggling to run small economical cars to get to work to pay our rising bills ands wages are staying low how are familys going to survive as hundreds of others are the same.how much longer can we go on ?
D Hennessey 13 June 2008, 14:58
i need my car for work as i have to travel 20 miles per day.
I earn less now than i did a year ago but the price of things are going up in leaps and bounds.
Now we dont have so many smokers and drinkers to tax the goverment just keep taking more and more from the motorist.
I think we should protest more.
I also think we should boycot the big two (BP+Shell) until they cut the cost of a gallon. Their making enough.
jenny 13 June 2008, 14:52
Im a mum with 3 children and i am sick to death with all the TALK about road blocking ect if someone could organise a stop work day, i would be there and we might get a voice . we always do the same thing moan and do nothing, in my opinion if we all refuse to go to work have a people day no cars no work ect the goverment might take notice if it starts to lose our money along with our votes. I know for some this might be hard but if we dont do something soon we will all be on the bread line .
Anthony Smith 13 June 2008, 14:51
Im sick and tired of being taken for a ride by this Car hating tax crazed government!!! The cost of fuel effects everything from the cost of energy to the loaf of bread that I put on my table and quite frankly enough is enough!! Where does this government think people will find this extra money from?? All they want is to control the way that decent people are living there everyday lives. Lets face it, the owner of a gas guzzling New Range Rover can afford the extra costs because financially they have a significantly higher income than the average person. Its the majority of us people who are trying to maintain a decent lifestyle for ourselves and our families that will be stung in the pocket from every angle! The sooner people stand up and be counted letting this maniac Gordon Brown and the incompetent people he employs know that we want them OUT!!! the better for all of us!! You have to ask yourself why the Yanks pay $4.00 a gallon which equates to £2.50 and we pay £6.00+ a gallon of fuel????? DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
BOB 13 June 2008, 14:49
I wonder if you read this Mr prime sinister. I VOTED FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT TO GIVE ME AND MY FAMILLY A GOOD STANDARD OF LIVING AND YOU HAVE FAILED ENORMOUSLY. ALL YOU HAVE DONE IS STOLEN OUR LIVES AND DRIVEN US INTO DISPARE.HOPE YOU ARE ALL WELL AND HAPPY AND ENJOY THE FREEDOM YOU HAVE FOR EXAMPLE : WHO PAYS FOR YOUR FUEL —OH WE DO — WHO PAYS FOR YOUR FOOD—OH WE DO — AND THE BIG ONE —- WE PAY YOUR WAGE TO MAKE US ALL MISAREBLE
clive (gosport) 13 June 2008, 14:38
The last writer calls the others making there comments IDIOTS-perhaps he should have mentioned the amount of vat the goverment is raking in and quietly laughing up there sleeve, the beef IS with this greedy goverment.
steven corless 13 June 2008, 14:31
yes iam a hgv driver and yes i have a car and need to traval 40 miles to work.
i think the only way to get the govement to do something is block all the motorways and national roads for a solid week bring this counyry to a full stand still- we let this goverment rule us we dont have freedom of speech any more – two things in this county we need to do [1] stick together and [2] get rid of this govement quick———-
William Stuart 13 June 2008, 14:22
There is a simple solution to these huge multi national companies STOP USING them now,they will soon notice the profits dropping, use your local supermarket petrol companies,if you double the journey up with your grocery shop it also helps.
These companies along with this greedy government are holding us over a barrel,this is an easy form of protest that everybody can easily do.
owain glyndwr 13 June 2008, 14:07
WHAT A BUNCH OF IDIOTS- GET REAL!!!!
A protest is a pointless waste of time, the government has virtually nothing to do with the recent ballistic rise in petrol.
The price of petrol in Spain, France, even bleedin’ Hungary is almost the same as it is here give or take a few pence. The beef isn’t with the government – although they have other things to answer for – its with the money-grabbing oil companies. Shell earns over a BILLION pounds profit each month!
A few powerful people are getting obscenely wealthy over the panic whipped up by the press.
If you want to protest try picketing the oil companies gates instead.
mk 13 June 2008, 13:44
i agree with all of them. the government needs to cut down on the cost of fuels. im a student and im struggling. the government needs to read these and do something.
Rab (falkirk) 13 June 2008, 13:23
we should definately support fuel protests.how long are we all going to sit back while our hard earned incomes buy us less and less each week.this goverment needs to be sent a clear message that the people that it is supposed to reprsent are not going to allow it to continually impose its will any longer.we are now one of the highest taxed contries in the world,have the highest fuel costs in europe,have sat back and watched ordinary peoples pension plans being continually attacked by employers(which is a direct result of another brown tax grab) to mention a few.i feel we should all be putting severe pressure on this sad excuse for a goverment by any means possible be it demonstrations,writing letters to your mp,and organised protests through the trade union movement,this would make it ubundantly clear that thier time is almost up.or they can for once listen to the people and do the right thing and cut the tax and/ or duty they could do easily by the stroke of a pen.depends i guess on “are they really listening”
george 13 June 2008, 13:13
What ever hapened to alternative fuels! the goverment could give grants to farmers to grow green fuel, instead of paying good taxpayers money to let the fieldsstay doormant!!
mark anthonty 13 June 2008, 13:09
lets all stick together ; need lower fuel prices we british always pay top wack for every thing we need the goverment to lower the price so even them people on low income can get by, and lets focus on whats important th the british people in stead of whats not ,
maggs 13 June 2008, 13:08
perhaps it is time to re nationalise the gas electricity and water along with the oil companys and keep the greedy rich from getting richer they say we need to watch our carbon footprints but who i ask is watching theirs. it doesnt bother them all these rises as they get plenty in the way of money but for those of us who stuggle on a basic wage where will it all end my wages are not increasing in line with all these rises so now we survive rather than live butfor how long can we go on like this……… £74 to fill the car !!!!!!!!!!
Daniel 13 June 2008, 12:35
Fuel prices are absolutely rediculous. The best thing to do is to protest. I am a lorry driver and will be participating in protests because it seems to be the only way to get your point across in this country. We are being robbed of our money whilst their are some places around the world that get fuel for a fraction of the prices we do.
My company is suffering severely with the increase in fuel prices and something needs to be done to stop this. The simple answer to me would be for the government to cut down the tax on the fuel which will benefit the whole country including those that just can not afford the rate of inflation.
John 13 June 2008, 12:33
How long will we be held ransom by those who would wish to lie from us, we live in an abundant world with no shortages only greedy individual who wish to charge exhorbitant prices and only give a minimal amount back. Perhaps its now time to take action of some sort
J Vasey 13 June 2008, 12:20
When I retired I thought I would be able to see more of my family who live in Yorks Staffs and lancs But with the fuel prices Thats out of the window.yes I now get free bus travel But to get anywhere you really want to go is out of the question as it involves at least two buses more often three.a journey that takes less than 30 min can take 2 hrs on the bus If I want to take my Grandchildren Which i like to do the cost is prohibitive.I bought a 7 seater car so all the family can travel in one car safely but that is going to be too costly to run.Why are we being taxed more than any other country both on fuel and safety(smaller cars mean more kids not being seated securely).
Its time we said enough is enough to this government Everyone should protest. I use low voltage lights recycle almost everything
I dont fly
all I want to do is see my family when I want
H M Murdock 13 June 2008, 12:09
Petrol is over prised and over taxed. why does it have to be so hard, wen i heard that petrol in Trinidad and Tobago is 35p a litre i nearly fainted, im debatin movin, its sunnier,cheaper and has a ace name. we wil be gettin taxed on walkin shortly!
Andrew Migs Mighall 13 June 2008, 11:49
It makes me SICK!!!
All the technology we have today, and we still rely on raw non-renewable resourses like oil? GET OVER!!!!!
Money, govt. does not want to use new (cleaner) methods… really when you think about it, how would the govt. tax water (new car fuel)? They couldnt!
I went into Newark hospital the other day, and it is grebby and disgusting… so where is out tax money going???
You (to whom ever it might really concern) are revolting, and i hope u choke on the money you are collecting for YOURSELF!!!
kev slater 13 June 2008, 11:43
I work 20mile away and could not afford public transport prices. Therfore I have to use the car. The 2p in not the issue for me but how much we pay in tax at the moment this is the highest in the eu and Mr brown and co could help by reducing this a little. Therfore I say support the protests all the way its about time we had a fair deal.
M Pearson 13 June 2008, 11:38
My parents live in Tenerife, also an island like ourselves – we have exactly the same vehicle – is costs my dad £30 to fill up and us £69!!! when we bought it a year ago it was £55 for a full tank
We are too heavily taxed on fuel – thats obvious
but what can really do done about it??
keith robert willavise 13 June 2008, 11:21
i work nights at a large brewery,its 30 miles round journey,how will i get to work without my car,no public transport overnight there either,i also drive lorrys for a living,and with this cost of fuel,all food products are increasing to,including your pint of beer in your local.its a knock on effect.
im afraid this countrys gone to hell in a handcart with the lunatics running the asylum!!
Peter Barcroft 13 June 2008, 11:21
The 2p is not the problem, it’s the 30p over the last 14 months that’s the problem, every time 2p goes on the price per ltr the extra tax goes on as well.
Surely the government should be allowing us to use all the fuel saving devices they’ve managed to stop people manufacturing over the years which they stopped so that they would not lose out on taxation!!!
paula 13 June 2008, 11:15
i think all the firms in england should shut down for a couple of days and get through to the grovement everyboby saying stop buying fuel but people need it to get to work so if everyboby shuts they doors and stand buy there staff they would have to do something quickly it quiet simlple really
Mal Hubber 13 June 2008, 11:13
It’s about time people of “briton” stood up like the French do in times like this,
the more pressure put on Gordon Brown the better. The gov’mnt have kicked the motorist for far too long its time to say NO Mr. Brown……..
I bought a a deisel car to save money, what a waste of time !!!!!
andy 13 June 2008, 11:08
i have only one thing to say if we dont stand up for ourselves now when prices on most things are rising then we will always be bossed about, we make them rich if we cut back or protest and all stick together then that is the only time it will hurt them. if only it was as easy as that?
Keith Hawkes 13 June 2008, 11:01
The government will end up doing a deal with the truckers i.e. tax rebate on fuel or something, it’s time we all made a stand like the French this and ALL goverments are just ripping us off with all taxes stelf what ever, they allow Large Companies to rip us off because they pay in to the party funds and they get a Knighthood out of it, it’s about time WE the ordenerey people in th UK made a stand and lets have a General Elelection NOW and lets put in place GOOD HONEST working people to run the country not those who have been brain washed by one perty or the other.
Steve (York) 13 June 2008, 10:43
YES!!..I think it is time to protest. The Great British public are renowned for having a stiff upper lip and taking things in our stride. Enough is enough!!.Fuel amongst many other things is taxed to the hilt because it is an essential comodity which people need. The government say they tax the basic fuel cost, this is rubbish as the increases reflect a rise on the gross fuel price with tax. If we had an average taxation on fuel, the price would be somewhere in the region of 43p to 50p per litre.
I’m sure this is a ploy to make us go greener (that I have no objection to as I fully support environment issues) but if I were to take public transport to work in order to become greener, I would have to get up at 4.00am (If buses ran from then) and spend the next 3 1/2 hours travelling by bus and changing 4 times. My expenses would be just short of £400.00 in travel costs. This aside, my fuel costs at present cost £280.00 and it takes me 25 minutes to get to and from work. If i were to catch a bus home, I don’t want to even go there.
We tolerate too much with this Government, it’s time to make a stand and show the MP’s who they are responsible for and not just themselves and their fat pockets. Europe won’t put up with it so why do we…Oh!..I forgot, we are the Guinea Pigs for Europe.
Shaun Tasker 13 June 2008, 10:30
Definitely the protest should go ahead , I live 53 miles away from my work I have a fixed contract so I have no choice not to work there, I pay all my taxes and have never claimed from the state, I feel ashamed and disgusted how this country starves and strangles its civilians through Tax, every time I get into my car I have to consider if I will be able to afford my car for the week let alone for the month, its all well and good for those individuals who earn plenty of money sitting on those benches CP should I say who?? ,
who use tax payers money for child care or home repairs, its ok for them but what about those of us who work hard and are grafters and try the very best for our families and to support them, and to put clothes on the backs and to make sure they go to school and have food in there tummies,……….
PLEASE STOP THIS, OTHERWISE I WILL CERTAINLY BE CONSIDERING MOVING ABROAD or OTHERWISE I WILL GO BANKRUPT………………….
Dunca Wardle 13 June 2008, 10:22
I think we should protest. But the biggest thing that narks me is that the government says we shoul use public transport more.. well maybe we would if it was overcrowded unreliable and so expensive. I work shifts and half of them mean I can not use public transport as its not running. The times I can use publice transport its just not viable, its take me 20-30 minutes to drive to work, if I use public tranpsort, its a 20 minute walk to the station, 10-15minutes on the train, then 10 minutes on the bus then a 10-15 minute walk to work, thats 50-60 minutes not including all the waiting about for trains buses etc, so why would I not want to use the car. On top of this the cost of traveling to work if about £5-8 a day via public transport as opposed to £20 a week in the car!!!. On top of that at times when I have used public transport I’ve been stuck on the platform for 30-40 minutes waiting for a train that wasn’t full so I could actually get on!!!. The thing is if public transport was decent and not extortionately expensive people would use it!. If public transport is so good why do MP’s all have chaufer driven cars!!???. How about they reduce the amount of money MP’s can claim for second house, living expenses etc.. and use the to cover a reduction in petrol prices!!
Barry Maidment 13 June 2008, 10:02
72.3% total tax on fuel should say all we need, if the price has increased by approx. 46p since last year the goverment are taking 33.25 of this so I can’t understand why the main issue seems to be with the oil companies. Surely the labour goverment could give some of this tax back and still make millions out of our misery.
Amanda 13 June 2008, 10:02
I would like to say that whilst it is the Government taking a lot of money from high taxes, the companies need to take some responsibility in the high cost. Today I paid 121.9 per litre, two and a half hours later and a very busy forecourt, the price was 123.9 per litre. They know people will panic and are cashing in on it.
James Cambridge 13 June 2008, 09:59
The French don’t put up with it so why do we !
The UK people like to moan but do nothing about fuel prices or anything else. We wait for someone else to do it for us.
The only way to get the taxes down on fuel is for everyone to support these strikes and have more of them at the same time.
Megan Gibbes 13 June 2008, 09:40
Yes we must protest and the best way to do it is to hit the wallet of the greedy. If everyone collectively stiked by not buying any petrol/diesel for however long it takes, it is bound to have an effect on the share price. If the desire for petrol shares wobbles then the price of fuel may come down. Additionally, goverments worldwide should reduce the fuel taxes considerably and legislate by forcing or taxing the fuel companies such as BP and others with their avaricious appetite for huge profits to research for new oil fields. The world leaders should put their heads together to fast track alternatives to oil and use the tax take from oil companies to do this. The situation is out of control. We need outstanding global leaders to tough it out and forge a new direction in our fuel needs. For too long has the consumer been held to financial pressure by the easy tax and greed of goverments and friendly fuel corporations. We have the power to start a change. Strike by not using fuel.
Babbla puttar 13 June 2008, 09:37
I do not understand that where is all that money ,that the public pays in the form of income tax, council tax, road tax etc etc is disappearing. The contractors for road constructions and other alotments are making fortune and there is no control by the government over these giant crocodiles. The only people those suffer are innocent public those are really hit hard with the fuel priceses. Most people drive company cars and claim there expences. The war on Iraq was for fuel but the government couldn’t explain that where the hell all that revenue is disappearing.
Indi gaddu 13 June 2008, 09:34
I really agree that the drastic increase in fuel prices is ridiculous!! and a potest should be rallied whether on the roads or even the motorways…No one is taking into consideration the feelings of the motorists and there families, to some people driving could be there livelihood and foodand other necesities are been taken away from them and their families…How low can some people get…
The government should take care of its people and not just themselves, its a shame that we always suffer like this..
so i deeply agree that WE SHOULD fully support the fuel protest, and support any other protest thats against taking more of our well earned money. so we can protect our families and our future..!!
william jack 13 June 2008, 09:30
Surely there has to be something morally wrong with prices of any particular item going up almost daily, profits at the petrol companies are through the roof, but i dont blame the companies, i blame the government taxation of fuel at 65p per pound, surely this is just another way to recoup all the money the goverment have lost since the smoking ban.
Paul 13 June 2008, 09:21
what the general public need to do is not buy any fuel at all for 3 days. That will affect the oil companies with their profits. why leave it for the lorry drivers to protest, its affecting us all. And its not Gordon Browns fault either. People are blaming the wrong ones.
Gemma 13 June 2008, 09:02
There is lots of talk we all need our cars for various reasons. Forget that for a minute ….. road haulage keeps this country going, food in the supermarkets, materials disruputed etc without road haulage this country would stop.
Have a thought for those who literally need it, there are hundreds of transport companies going bust every week. Some of them have been around for 30 years ! An increase of 5p a litre is an extra £3000 a month to an average transport company.
Puts things into perspective, doesn’t it ?
Chad 13 June 2008, 08:56
The government should be taking our fight to the oil companies not us and, at the least, reducing the tax on oil. They should also look at windfall taxes on oil companies and use this money to reduce our oil tax – NOT put it in their coffers to waste like they seem to do (i.e. using it to give houses and benefits to illegal immigrants whilst I as a british tax payer have to struggle!) An excellent example was when Severn Trent were fined millions for overcharging – did customers get money back as a result of this fine … no, the government got to keep it!
I always thought a government was elected to best serve the people, so when all the people in the country are suffering, what is the government doing to help … squat! Things always seem to go up and when there is prosperity, do we ever see a reduction in taxes or expenses … no! When will the government that we elected to serve us actually give us something to make life livable, without taking from somewhere else? They just take take take!
The same could be said for the green issue – are the government forcing oil companies to invest in CHEAP alternative fueled cars, or challenging manufacturers on packaging so WE dont have to face more taxes on our bins. And as for Simons comments on WWII … what about Zimbabwe … oh yes, no oil there, lets just let them carry on whilst we pump millions into a war in the desert.
Mr A Mcdonald 13 June 2008, 08:54
i live in the country, i cycle as much as i possibly can,but i have to use my car to get to and from my place of work as it is a 45 mile round trip,the pubic transport is atrocious and it would take me two hours to get to work by pubic transport, i think these fuel prices are ridiculous,its just typical of rip off Britain, its about time all motorists stood together to protest against these greedy fuel companies, and also this government,who are only interested in looking after no 1,and don’t give a dam about any one else. YES WE SHOULD support the fuel protest, and support any other protest thats against taking more of our hard earned cash.
Michael 13 June 2008, 08:47
Michael – Northumberland
Something has to be done asap, the rich are getting richer and as for the rest of us its just another struggle to get through and it cannot continue, the economy will suffer people will go out of business etc it all has knock on effects, fuel is probably one of the mosty important factors for the national ecomony, without it lorries will not be able to deliver , pwoplw won’t be able to get to work etc, the politicians must start negotiating with the oil companies surely there must be a formal body which regulates the indutry?
Dr Simon Beardshall 13 June 2008, 08:30
The time has come for us all to re think the way we use our cars. no more can we take our kids to school just a few hundred yards down the road like i see some people do every day. We must boycot all petrol stations nation wide, what ever happened to PEOPLE POWER, if we all protested all over the country and either stopped buying fuel or held a protest out side your local petrol station, i think that soon the oil companys would sit up and listen as would the government. Its not only the oil companys and government making huge profits over this current price hike but the UK supermarkets are too! its Mr Tesco and his mates at ASDA and Sainsburys who are also making huge profits as the price of food is rising due to the cost of increase fuel prices to deliver all this cheap food around the world to the store near you. Why dont they make a start by thumping their fists on the desks of government after all they are one of the governments biggest tax payers.
Come on Great Britain where is your back bone!? This Government and EU Government have forgotton that over 50 Million People died in WWII to give us our fredom of rights but the way its going at the moment its beginning to feel like Hitler won? and we are all being dictated to by powerful forces. We cannot stand for this any longer and must make a stand!
Mrs mandy osborne 13 June 2008, 08:21
Yes petrol should come down because i am disabled and i need my car to go shopping and to see the doctor and i go to hospital alot and i go to see family i cannot get on the train because i use a wheelchair
G Ashworth 13 June 2008, 08:10
Once again we are at the mercy of the greedy oil companies and the hapless government. The forgotten people, ( the voting public ) are once again paying for the short sightedness of the people who we vote for and who we rely on to look after our interests. Wars , waste in our hospitals schools etc have to be paid for, but who again has to pay. At the beginning of our own great oil find, a great MP and statesman said “ We are now selling the family silver”. It now seems like we have sold it and squandered the proceeds. The world as everyone is aware, is solely dependent on oil and. I hope that somewhere among the greed and waste that we seem to produce in abundance, someone has or is working toward a viable source of transport and such that is not in any way reliant on oil to function.
Ian Smart 13 June 2008, 08:01
There are only two words that cover this ongoing escalation of fuel prices. Greed and dishonesty. Greed on the part of the fuel producers and total unashamed dishonesty on the part o