Blair to meet fuel protest leader
18 October 2000
‘Blair to meet fuel protest leader’
By FWi staff
THE Prime Minister and the Chancellor plan to meet a farmer leader of last months fuel tax protests, reports The Times.
The meeting between Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and producer Brynle Williams, from Mold, Flintshire, could take place as early as next week.
This is seen as an attempt to head off renewed protests when a 60-day deadline set by demonstrators expires on 13 November.
Mr Williams, who led protests at the Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire, told the newspaper he is prepared to break his pledge not to intervene until the deadline.
He wants to put his case to ministers before the Chancellor makes his pre-Budget statement.
The newspaper says Downing Street is grateful for the role Mr Williams played in standing down demonstrators at the end of the protest.
Mr Williams is reported to be unhappy with the disparate nature of current negotiations.
He is said to be concerned that the hard-line Peoples Fuel Lobby, which includes members of the Farmers For Action group, could inflame the situation.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Fuel Lobby is holding a public meeting Gateshead on Wednesday (18 October) to gauge the public mood.
Protester Andrew Spence told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that he would not accept a compromise offer extending red diesel availability.
It had been reported that Mr Brown is considering extending the red diesel scheme, which offers diesel to farmers at a discount of 42ppl, to road hauliers.
In another development, farmers are planning to take the Government to court over fuel taxes under the new Human Rights Act.
Test cases will be launched with a writ in the High Court this week, reports the BBC Radio 4 Farming Today programme.
The case is based on the fact that farmers can use red diesel while working on the land, but are forced to use full-cost diesel to transport produce to market.
Lawyers say the Government has recognised the need to subsidise farmers activities and should take an even-handed approach to all aspects of farming work.
They argue that the regime prevents a person from earning a decent living and farmers are being taxed in a discriminatory way.
- Fuel tax – news update
- The Times 18/10/2000 page 10