Don't protest against fuel prices, FTA warns

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has warned anyone thinking of protesting against the hike in fuel prices that such protests are pointless.

FTA chief executive Richard Turner said: "With rising oil prices impacting on inflation, the last thing the UK economy and the consumer needs this summer is the self-inflicted wounds resulting from the sort of actions we saw in the fuel protest blockades of 2000. Such actions do much more harm than good.

"All sectors of UK industry must take a responsible attitude, including those seeking to disrupt oil supplies by whatever means. Our message to potential protesters in 2004 is the same as it was in 2000: 'Don't do it'. Blockades and civil disobedience are not the way to resolve the very serious problems faced by the transport industry and industry at large."

Turner also attacked the government: "Having recognised the problem of high taxes on lorry diesel, but telling us to wait seven years for the remedy while each year increasing the tax burden, borders on the deceitful."