London truckers protest duty on oil

London: Nearly 1,000 truck drivers drove into London to protest rising fuel costs after crude touched $135 a barrel.

The drivers demanded concessions from the government, including an “essential user rebate” and cancellation of the proposed 2 p/litre fuel duty beginning October.

“They have concessions for agriculture, buses, why can't they give us a bit. We just want to make an honest living. Most of the small firms will go up the wall,” says a Suffolk lorry driver, Mike.

Truckers say fuel costs eat up 60 per cent of their earnings whereas it should be around the 30-35 per cent mark to be profitable.

Moreover the domestic industry is threatened by foreign transporters, especially from Europe.

Says another lorry driver, Paul Strong, “We are most expensive in Europe. Why can't we be in line with them?”

Agrees another lorry driver, Chris Lewis, “They are getting a lot of fuel duty from us. Fifty per cent is what goes into the treasury. It’s not right.”

Pressure is growing on British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. His government plans to raise road tax for higher polluting vehicles. But the more immediate concern for the British PM is to tackle the truckers.

These drivers hope their protests will send the message across. Its no longer a problem, they say, it's a crisis.

They want the government to make concessions and say if they don't get what they want, they are prepared to take it further.

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