Fuel Backlash Gathers Pace

Hauliers came from all over south Wales for the M4 protest, the first for nearly four years since the end of the previous fuel crisis. The motorway was jammed as the convoy crawled at snail's pace into Cardiff. There was widespread support from other drivers, who cheered as the lorries passed.

Chancellor Gordon Brown has promised to reconsider boosting fuel duty on 1 September, a move he announced in the Budget earlier this year. But that wasn't enough for the Cardiff event organisers - they said the Government was simply stalling for time.

However, for other campaigners, including County Durham farmer Andrew Spence of the People's Fuel Lobby, it's enough for the time being. He told Auto Express that seven protests had been planned for this week, but were scrapped at the eleventh hour. "Everything is on hold because of the Government's positive attitude towards not raising duty," he explained. "It has got a month, then things will start happening all over the UK - without warning."

He refused to say what those plans were at this stage, but it's thought they would include more go-slow protests in towns and cities, or on main motorways. And he warned there was plenty of support from all quarters. "There are hauliers, farmers, London cabbies... they are all behind us," he said.

Spence is one of the movement's key men. His organisation helped stage the demonstrations that brought the country to a halt in autumn 2000. We asked him what the protests would achieve. "They'll show the Government that people out there are dissatisfied. With the amount of tax imposed on fuel, it is within its capability to reduce duties to keep prices at a manageable level," he answered.

Ray Holloway, director of the Petrol Retailers' Association, told us how much he believes a litre of unleaded will be
on 1 October. "The price will fluctuate between now and then, but if the Chancellor raises duty, I think we will still be paying 82p or 83p," said Holloway.