Dec 13 2007
Petrol Protests
Recent news suggests more UK petrol price protests are on the way this weekend, Saturday 15 December, with more action in the New Year.
Transaction 2007 group claims to have support from Road Haulage Association members,Haulage Contractors, Motorists and Farmers and action has been brought forward to enable motorists to better prepare.
UK has seen protests in the past aimed at getting the goverment to do something to reduce excessive tax on fuel. Last time major protests led to road blockades, picketing, and tax freeze concessions from the goverment. Then, however, prices were around 80p per litre, now following oil price surge to a crippling £1.05 per litre. Pressure will mount on the goverment this time to cut fuel tax to be more in line with Europe.
Further information; Fuel Crisis Blog
Hi Mark,
I remember back when they first changed selling petrol from gallons to litres, people lost out then and my dad said they did that so you can’t tell how much more they added to the cost.
I still don’t know how to convert litres into gallons but I know it’s got extremely expensive to drive in the UK now.
Thankfully her in america the cost of fuel, which at the moment is as high as it’s ever been is still only $3.00 per gallon which is about one pound fifty.
I think by the time I get back to england I won’t be able to afford to smoke or drive.
I’m not sure on the facts but i’m willing to bet the UK is one of the most heaviest taxed countries in the world now, or at least on certain items.
Tony:)
Hi Tony, Your Dad may well have had a point! Litres to gallons is s devlish calculation. It is true UK has one of the highest taxes on fuel in the world, that at least was one victory for the protesters last time, forcing the goverment to freeze duty. Of course, they tried many times to raise it since.
Now will pressure be sufficient to force a cut in fuel tax? With the oil price rises it’s the only way to keep some form of sanity to the petrol price. I am always sceptical about our goverment making any kind of tax cut, but these fuel tax levels have gone way past the point of being ridiculous.
Hey Mark A lets not speak bout gas !! dan have you seen the prices of gas in northern Cali? errrrrr
btw I added you to my Ravs savs & Favs
ta
hb~
Yes the trouble with tax cuts is that the government generally get their way in the end. They make you feel good about a tax cut on fuel then add it to something else, like alcohol or cigarettes.
It’s the same old story, they give it in one hand and take it away in the other.
My dad used to get so angry about the rise in his pension, they would give him something stupid like an extra two pound fifty, a week later they would put road tax up by about a tenner or something similar.
The trouble is with many people they won’t stick together, the last time I saw people pull together in a big way was the poll tax riots, I don’t mean the riots but the way everyone just refused to pay it, eventually the government had to back down, but they still got it in the end, just called it something different, can’t remember what it was.
I suppose the underlying point is, if the government want to slap an extra 50p in tax on you, they will, and if they can’t because of public opinion they pretend to back down but take it some other way, just a little less obvious.
Tony:)
Sure, but as we know, the poll tax was replaced by the hated council tax. Personally, we would have been better off in my family with the former, but that emphasises your point, Tony, what we gain on the swings we lose on the roundabouts!
Thanks harleyblues, I really appreciate your fav! Okay, I won’t speak about Gas..Mum’s the word