Fuel protests – news update


15 November 2000



Fuel protests – news update


A HARDCORE group of farmers and hauliers is continuing to protest against fuel taxes despite concessions announced by the government.

The latest stories can be found at the top of this page.


Fuel protest leader resigns

15 November 2000

FUEL protest leader and farmer David Handley has resigned as chairman of the Peoples Fuel Lobby following demonstrations in London and Edinburgh.

Convoy – damp squib or sad victory?

15 November 2000

NEWSPAPERS are divided on the effectiveness of the convoy of farmers and haulier who descended on London on Tuesday (14 November) in protest at fuel taxes.

Fuel protest descends on London

14 November 2000

TRAFFIC in central London was brought to a standstill when environmental campaigners blocked a convoy of fuel tax protestors at Hyde Park.

Green group blocks convoy

14 November 2000

CENTRAL London was briefly brought to a standstill when environmental protesters blocked a convoy of fuel tax demonstrators at Hyde Park Corner.

Fuel protesters home in on London

14 November 2000

DOZENS of lorries are set to converge on London as farmers and hauliers prepare for a rally against high fuel taxes at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park.

Protesters hail relaxation of ban

13 November 2000

A POLICE decision to relax plans for an exclusion zone preventing fuel demonstrators descending on London, has been welcomed by the protest leader.

Fuel protest at Smithfield?

13 November 2000

BRITAINs premier indoor farming event could be the scene a major protest against fuel tax, a leading demonstrator has hinted.

Farming unions condemn fuel convoy

10 November 2000

FARMING unions have called for demonstrators travelling in convoy from Tyneside to London in protest at fuel tax levels to end their action.

Stop now, says protest pioneer

10 November 2000

A FARMER who led protests against fuel tax levels two months ago has called on protesters to halt their present action.

Beware of fuel thieves, farmers told

10 November 2000

THE Environment Agency is asking farmers who store fuel to be extra vigilant following the raid on a farm near Sittingbourne on Wednesday (08 November).

Poor turnout for fuel-tax convoy

10 November 2000

AROUND 70 lorries and tractors have set off from Tyneside to petition the Government in London over fuel tax.

Protest pays: What the papers say

09 November 2000

“PROTEST PAYS” is the verdict of the most of the morning newspapers, reflecting on Chancellor Gordon Browns Pre-Budget statement.

Brown fails to stop fuel protests

08 November 2000

FURTHER fuel protests will go ahead, despite a pledge from Chancellor Gordon Brown to freeze fuel duty and scrap excise duty for farm vehicles

Tractor tax to be scrapped

08 November 2000

CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown has announced that vehicle tax charges will be scrapped for tractors and other agricultural vehicles from next year.

Haddock: Dont join fuel tax protests

08 November 2000

FARMERS are being asked by one of their leaders not to take part in planned high-profile protests against fuel tax levels.

Ministers look to Brynle the mediator

07 November 2000

MINISTERS are gambling on Welsh farmer Brynle Williams acting as a mediator with angry fuel tax protesters, claims The Times.

Fuel leader receives death threats

06 November 2000

A FARMERS leader who is preparing to drive to London in protest at high fuel taxes claims that death threats have been made against his family.

Papers guess at Browns fuel plans

06 November 2000

GORDON BROWN will freeze duty on fuel until at least April 2002, and perhaps for a year after that, claims The Times.

Drop the link, FFA tells neo-Nazis

03 November 2000

FARMERS for Action (FFA) has asked the neo-Nazi British National Party to remove a link from its website which takes people straight to the FFA homepage.

Conspiracy against protest leader

03 November 2000

THE government is carrying out a systematic campaign to blacken the name of fuel protest ringleader Dave Handley, The Times is claiming.

Farmers split over new fuel protests

03 November 2000

FUEL protesters appear to be unable agree whether they should stick to the 60-day deadline they have issued for the government to reduce fuel tax.

Shaky support for fuel protesters

02 November 2000

SUPPORT for the fuel protesters appears to be wavering as Britains newspapers criticise farmers threatening more demonstrations.

Fuel tax puts farmers out of business

01 November 2000

EXTORTIONATE fuel taxes are driving farmers out of business, the National Farmers Union told a committee of MPs on Wednesday (01 November).

Spooks infiltrate fuel lobby

01 November 2000

SPECIAL BRANCH officers have been infiltrating meetings held by truckers and farmers to find out more about the fuel protesters, it has emerged.

Fuel protesters plan Jarrow crawl

31 October 2000

FARMERS and hauliers have announced a 300-mile “slow drive” protest to London taking four days unless the government cuts fuel tax next week.

Protesters slam army fuel plans

30 October 2000

FARMERS and hauliers have condemned government plans to use soldiers to drive petrol tankers in the event of further protests against high fuel taxes.

Troops practice breaking blockades

27 October 2000

EVIDENCE of governments plans to thwart further fuel blockades is growing as the countdown to renewed action continues.

Public back fuel protests

27 October 2000

FARMERS should not hold back from direct action such as protests, pickets and blockades for fear of upsetting public opinion, says Oxfordshire landowner Sir Julian Rose.

Minister hints at fuel help

26 October 2000

A SENIOR government minister has hinted the government will help hauliers and farmers hit by high fuel prices, reports the Daily Express.

Brown pledge on fuel escalator

23 October 2000

CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown has pledged not to restore the fuel duty escalator, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Fuel protesters name rally day

20 October 2000

FUEL protesters will hold a mass rally in Hyde Park on 13 November unless the government meets their 60-day deadline to cut fuel duty, it is reported.

Fuel protesters threaten London

19 October 2000

FARMERS and lorry drivers have threatened to march on London if their demands for a reduction in fuel tax are not met.

Farmers, truckers want 1.5bn off fuel tax

19 October 2000

THE NFU and the Freight Transport Association have joined forces to call for sweeping changes to the fuel taxation system, which it estimates will cost the government 1.5 billion.

Blair to meet fuel protest leader

18 October 2000

THE Prime Minister and the Chancellor plan to meet a farmer leader of last months fuel tax protests, reports The Times.

Farmers left high and dry on fuel

17 October 2000

THE Confederation of Business Industry has withdrawn from a group which farmers and hauliers hoped would persuade the government to reduce fuel taxes.

Protest leader slams Blair brinkmanship

13 October 2000

A FARMER who led protests against fuel tax levels has accused the Prime Minister of playing “a dangerous game of brinkmanship” on the issue.

Protest leader slams Blair brinkmanship

13 October 2000

A FARMER who led protests against fuel tax levels has accused the Prime Minister of playing “a dangerous game of brinkmanship” on the issue.

Farmers to meet hauliers over fuel

13 October 2000

FARM leaders will meet transport and industry groups on Monday (16 October) to finalise a joint submission on fuel tax cuts to the government.

Chancellor in secret talks over fuel

11 October 2000

THE Chancellor of the Exchequer has discussed possible ways of appeasing rural anger over fuel taxes during secret talks with farm union leader Ben Gill.

Cheap car tax for rural drivers?

11 October 2000

CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown plans to offer motorists in remote areas discounts of 110 on car tax, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Food supplies targeted by fuel group

09 October 2000

FUEL protesters may target food supplies as part of their campaign to force down diesel and petrol prices.

Greenpeace to confront fuel pickets

05 October 2000

ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have vowed to challenge farmers if they try to hold protests at oil refineries again.

Farmers threaten more action on fuel

27 September 2000

FARMERS angered at hearing no reassurance from Tony Blair of a possible reduction in fuel tax are considering returning to the picket lines.

Red diesel concession to end

26 September 2000

SPECIAL arrangements allowing the use of red diesel as road fuel because of the fuel crisis are ending from midnight on 30 September.

Fuel protest leader profiled

26 September 2000

FARMER Brynle Williams, who led fuel tax protesters at Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire earlier this month, is the subject of a major interview in .

Welsh highlight poor public transport

22 September 2000

IF WELSH farmers representatives relied on public transport to get to union meetings, many would be forced to leave a day early, according to a new survey.

Fuel protesters to meet ministers

22 September 2000

REPRESENTATIVES chosen by farmers and truckers will meet government ministers to discuss the fuel taxes on Friday (22 September).

Minister to meet farmers over fuel tax

22 September 2000

AGRICULTURE minister Nick Brown has agreed to meet members of the Farmers For Action group who helped spearhead last weeks fuel blockades.

Portillo pledge to cut fuel tax

20 September 2000

PETROL and diesel prices will be cut by 3ppl if the Conservatives win the next election, shadow chancellor Michael Portillo has pledged.

Death threats to protest farmer

20 September 2000

ONE of the dairy farmers who helped arrange last weeks fuel blockades claims that he has received anonymous death threats in the wake of the protests.

Chancellor rejects 60-day deadline

19 September 2000

CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown has rejected a 60-day deadline set by farmers for measures to meet their grievances over fuel prices.

Ministers plan to thwart fuel threat

18 September 2000

GOVERNMENT ministers have held talks with oil-company bosses to discuss what they can do to thwart any further fuel blockades by farmers.

Countdown begins to fuel tax deadline

15 September 2000

FARMERS and hauliers have joined forces in a bid to force the government to reduce fuel taxes rather than face the threat of further protests.

Protest farmers issue 60-day deadline

15 September 2000

FARMERS have pledged more protests against high fuel taxes unless the government moves to reduce fuel tax within 60 days.

Union slams red diesel price rise

14 September 2000

THE National Farmers Union has hit out at oil companies after reports that they have increased red diesel prices by as much as 8p/litre in the wake of fuel protests.

Use red diesel but get agreement first

14 September 2000

FARMERS can use red diesel on the road – but must first get local agreement and will have to pay back tax.

Your views on the fuel protests

14 September 2000

THE fuel blockades continue to generate a steady stream of e-mails from farmers and other FWi users across the country.

Farmer fuel protest leaders profiled

14 September 2000

FARMERS to the fore of protests against fuel prices are profiled in The Independent.

Confusion over future of fuel protest

14 September 2000

FARMERS and hauliers are reported to be calling off their fuel price protests in some refineries and depots, but at others seem determined to fight on.

Pig slaughtering cancelled over fuel

13 September 2000

THE fuel crisis bringing the country to a standstill has forced the UKs biggest pigmeat processor to halve the number of pigs it slaughters this week.

Ulster farmers oppose fuel protests

13 September 2000

THE Ulster Farmers Union has become the second big farm union to oppose direct action in an bid to force the government to reduce fuel prices.

Farmers divided over fuel protests

13 September 2000

FARMERS and other people with farming interests are divided over whether blockades should continue across Britain in protest at high fuel prices.

Fuel protests continue, vow farmers

13 September 2000

FARMERS have vowed to continue protests against fuel prices, despite signs that blockades of oil refineries have been broken.

Cheshire blockade comes to an end?

13 September 2000

A FARMERS blockade at key oil refinery where recent protests against fuel prices began, is reported to have come to an end.

NFU walks tightrope over fuel prices

12 September 2000

THE National Farmers Union is walking a tightrope after refusing to support direct action by its members who are protesting against high fuel prices.

Farmers run dry as fuel crisis bites

12 September 2000

ARABLE growers, livestock producers and dairy farmers across the country have run out of fuel after protests against high prices stopped deliveries of vital supplies.

Fuel blockades threaten dairy farms

12 September 2000

MILK collections from dairy farms could be jeopardised by escalating protests and blockades over the high price of fuel, companies have warned.

Farmer pickets turn away extremists

12 September 2000

FARMERS picketing an oil refinery in protest at fuel prices turned away far right extremists who offered their support, reports The Times.

Fuel protest could hit animal welfare

12 September 2000

MILLIONS of farm animals face welfare problems as farmers protests cause fuel supplies to dry up around the country, an industry leader has warned.

Scots set to join fuel protest

11 September 2000

SCOTTISH farmers are set to join lorry drivers on the streets of Edinburgh on Tuesday as protests escalate about the cost of fuel.

Fishermen to join farmer fuel protests

11 September 2000

FISHERMEN are due to team up with farmers and hauliers on Monday to protest against fuel prices.

Farmers threaten to block road

08 September 2000

MILITANT British farmers and hauliers have warned the next step in their protest at rising fuel prices will involve blocking part of the A1 near Gateshead.

Farmers blockade oil refinery

08 September 2000

MILITANT British farmers have followed the lead of producers across the Channel and blockaded an oil refinery to demand lower taxes on fuel.

FUW: Follow French lead on fuel tax

06 September 2000

FARMERS and hauliers should follow the example of the French and campaign together for a reduction in fuel prices, says a Welsh producers representative.

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