Protesters to fire “warning shot” to the government.

David Begley, couldn't the direct action you refer to, be to move nearer to your workplace, instead of encouraging disruption of our day to day lives?

Motorists are a soft target for tax raising.

I am a law abiding citizen who normally shuns direct action but the situation here demands something out of the ordinary. I support what is proposed as an alternative to doing nothing. If it causes short term public inconvenience, so be it. People need to "put their money where their mouth is" on this issue.

We have a socialist government which constantly demonstrates its incompetence in the management of public money. there is little evidence that car related taxes are properly hypothecated. The state of non-major road surfaces in my locality is a scandal.

Good luck to the protestors, but no violence, please.

Re the comment about what to replace any reduction in tax with....the government, as far as we are led to believe, had no idea when churning out the budget what price fuel was going to be, unless they had a crystal ball, so how can you miss what you didn't plan on having? Scrap the road fund licence, tax the fuel only so that those who use the roads pay for them, and can't dodge paying as they can with the road fund licence. To tax at the rate we are is nothing short of theft by this greedy government who give back nothing in return. The roads are shoddy, the infrastructure lacking..so what ARE they spending the revenue on?

Would you prefer higher income tax or high fuel prices? Sadly, fact's are it's either / or. If you want to have neither, emigrate to a tax haven.

Two points.

1 Does anybody really expect the Government to say "We are wrong. There is too much tax on petrol. We are going to reduce it" ? If so, wake up !!

2 What if your car ran on tea ! A cup of tea in a cafe costs approx 50p. That is for about one-third of a pint. So for a pint of tea it would cost £1.50. 8 pints = 1 gallon = £12. Aren't you glad your car doesn't run on tea!!

BTW I do wish the price would come down, but I have serious doubts that it will unless the price of oil drops considerably (then the Government would add more taxes !).

Someone above said taxes are so high to pay for the welfare state. Well I'm currently on tax credits. I have my own car and by giving people a lift, I could reduce congestion by about ten cars a day and I get people to work quicker as a result. I also own my own business so I could charge the fuel cost to my business.

By having a signed agreement with all those getting a lift, I would not need a taxi licence. Imagine the roads if ten unemployed people did this each day.

If we had a long term plan for anything in this country then people would be behind the government. However we vote for a party, they say one thing and do another. For example, war in Iraq, war in Afghanistan, raise taxes to improve hospitals - no change, but still keep the tax. Sell off school playgrounds, now spend a billion to update what is left. If the fuel tax actually improved roads, transport and the whole infrastructure then fine.
The reality is it just props up inefficient finances and policies by Uncle Gordon.
Goods will go up in price yet we will be informed that inflation is only 2%.
I support the fuel protest.

yes i agree with most of the comments at it is time we stuck togeather ?who pays for the goverments petrol and road tax we seem to suffer from high costs and no retuns i have also had suffer more exspense due to damage to my car from conditions of the roads i totally agree with what you are doing for once lets stand united and let our voices be heard i cannot afford a big car and struggle with the running costs but i always see the goverment in so called gas guzelers did they say lead by example so all the best for tomorrow

If those organising the protests also organised long-term car sharing schemes, perhaps through liftshare.com, then people would make their journeys, public transport gets shamed, the government loses fuel taxes (only works if over the long term).

Then after a few months, people decide to share a car (and save money) or go back to paying what by then will be lower fuel costs and raised car taxes to compensate.

The thing is most British are too comfortable in their cars for their own good.

The fuel tax is at an all time low since it has not been rising by very much year on year. The price of oil is however at an all time high hence the high prices for petrol & Deisel. Perhaps the protests should be aimed at the oil companies not the government. They have been making record profits and also moving into bio fuels which is helping to put up the cost of our food!

As others have said: this lying, scheming government, that has had the most devious and under-handed chancellor imagineable - now prime minister of course - has reneged on every single one of its 1997 election manifesto promises. My small business is drowning under red-tape (IR35, S660, MSC, MSP etc... all new from them) and I am personally taxed to the hilt, not openly of course, but by stealth.

Remember when Brown, as chancellor, promised not to increase income tax... but then immediately put national insurance up instead? That 1% comes from your pay-packet in *exactly* the same way. And they have racked up employer's national insurance too, by several percent, which as an employee you don't see but it's why your employer can't afford to give you a pay rise... the government stole it from you! And then we're stealth taxed to the hilt through fuel duty etc, ever rising, and then VAT on top of that!

And for what? So that they can put it into their coffers now, ready for spending on generous schemes in one or two years time... just before the next election in the hope of buying themselves more votes, using our money!

This government - and the current prime minister in particular - is an utter disgrace; they deserve to be brought down. Sadly I can't see these protests achieving that, no matter how well managed they are, but they may at least give the government a bruise or two and show them that we've had enough of being bullied and robbed blind, just to bolster their coffers to introduce schemes to try and buy themselves yet another term in office, to push this country still further into the dark ages.

Yes, I support the protests!

One Question, we have been hearing about this on the web for days now. Why hasn't it been mentioned on the news at all?

The sky high price of petrol in the UK is not because of high oil prices, if it were, why is petrol $3 a gallon in the US, we are paying $10 a gallon in the UK.

As for the green argument, I will consider green alternatives as they arise, currently I see no alternative other than in big cities, to the car. Buses and trains are not a viable alternative, not everyone wants to travel into or out of London and those who do have to stand up. Give us wide seats, more legroom, and buses and trains that go where I want to go, at times I want to go, at a sensible price and I will be on them.

I remember a few years back when shell a global company announced it's profits, some low level minister was on the radio saying their profits were at the expense of the motorist. Quite an ironic statment when you consider road fuel is only a small part of shells operation and if you stick to road fuel in this country it a even smaller amount of shells profit. As motorist we pay more in takes a year than shell makes as a global company... anyway.

I just wonder what they'll tax when the oil runs out or get's too expensive for us normal people.. all this green taxes is a load of nonsense, there is nothing green about the taxes the goverment say it because they believe it's what we want to hear.. that's how out of touch they are. The enviroment is an important issue, but it shouldn't be used as an excuse to fill the treasury's coffers.

Please tell me why us brits are like sheep, any other country would have blockades and mass protest.
This govt know this thats why they can do what they want.WAKE up Britain
its time for a revolution.

Stephen Joseph (Campaign for Better Transport) needs to get a life. The Duty and VAT on fuel are far too high and even if it is inconvenient I support any protests that attempt to redress this iniquity.

But this is not political because the Fuel Tax Escalator was introduced by the Tories and I have heard no comment from Messrs Bum Fluff (Cameron and Osborne) that they would do different.

So let's inconvenience all MP's by blockading the Houses of Parliament and do it in such a way that the Lords cannot draw their attenedance fees. Oh dear what am I saying?

Well said Peter of Surrey,couldnt agree more.

Petrol has to be considered an essential fuel in todays "socialised " world. I think the figures are something like 68p in the pound tax on petrol. That leaves just 32p in every pound for the product, giving you tax of 212% (68p tax & 32p product) would this be considered an acceptable level of tax if it were on gas or electricity?
The "green" argument can be cited here. If fuel is cheaper, more is used causing a negative impact on the environment. While this may be true, as we continue to look for alternative fuels and say convert all our engines to run on rapeseed oil, farmers in Brazil are tearing up rain forests to grow more rapeseed to meet the demand of the "socialised" world. Can this be considered a negative impact on the environment too?
The issue here is about tax for me, I am continually offended how much it costs me in tax to live as an honest law abiding citizen.
Maybe if they removed the VAt element things would look a little better? As it is for every £1 increase in the price of fuel, we pay 1.17.5p.

Let's put an end to public apathy!

I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT THIS COUNTRY IS JUST ABOUT TAX. ITS ABOUT TIME WE STARTED TO TAKE NOTICE OF WHATS GOING ON AROUND US. £1.03 A LITRE THATS $2.10 ADD ANOTHER 35P AND THATS WHAT USA PAY FOR A GALLON ITS BLOODY CRAZY. THE GOVERNMENT REALLY WILL BE IN TROUBLE IF WE ALL TURNED TO GREENER ALTERNATIVES FOR TRAVEL, WHERE WILL ALL THEIR REVENUE COME FROM THEN. ALL OUR TAXES WILL GO UP SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THEY HAVE TO GET THE MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE SO ITS EASY TO BLAME THE MOTORIST. WITH THE DEATH OF THE LOCAL SHOP KEEPER, HOW ELSE DO YOU SURVIVE WITHOUT THE USE OF A CAR TO GO TO THE SUPERSTORES. EVERYBODY NEEDS A CAR AND THE GOVERNMENT KNOW IT. WHETHER YOU SPEND TEN POUNDS OR FIFTY POUNDS A WEEK ITS STILL FAR TOO MUCH TAX TO PAY. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Petrol at 102 p per litre - it's hardly more expensive than bottled water. Yes, our corrupt, greedy and incompetent government takes our tax and wastes it, but petrol is still far cheaper than wine.

Deal with it!

Stephen Joseph with his Campaign for Better Transport is talking out of his posterior if he thinks that lowering tax isn't the answer and high taxes will get people out of their cars. On planet Earth, particularly this lawless corner of it, the idea of using the inadequate public transport system with the aggressive and bad mannered other passengers does not appeal at all. I like the freedom to go where I want, when I want, without having to wait at a vandalised bus stop in the cold and dark, feeling vulnerable if strange blokes are about. Women just don't feel safe on public transport and the sooner these do gooders realise that the better. Provide safe, clean, frequent transport in a law abiding country then you will get people using public transport. I had to use it for the first 20 or so years of my life, and frankly I don't want to go back there just to please the idiots who have fallen for the global warming scam. Stop the Chinese building so many power stations first and then start worrying about what comes out of the rear of our cars. And let's vote this shower out of government the next chance we get. Who would have thought they could have conned so many intelligent people for so long?

In Egypt the price is about 20p per litre because it is essentially untaxed.

If you then add 400% tax to it, you get £1 a litre which we have more or less here, although diesel is more like £1.05 a litre.

Is 400% tax fair?

No.

And the Anthropogenic case for global warming is till un-proven.

Scrap *all* the tax on it and lower inflation.

Sadly this government needs to tax everything up to the hilt to pay for the generous welfare state they have created to try to woo over as many votes as possible from any quarter. How much per litre is going into these scemes ie the £200 (I believe) going into the banks of every child born? How much for the expectant mother to eat properly during her pregnancy (or spend on alcohol, cigarettes or drugs which ever she chooses) how much to ensure everyone who steps onto our shores gets a standard of living far far better than they had at home and better than some of our own pensioners, how much to encourage unmarried mothers to produce more children, the list goes on and on not even taking into consideration the massive bank breaking cost of this ILLEGAL war in Iraq. Just remember these facts at the next general election!

We should protest it is a scandalous price and public transport is expensive especially for pensioners who have to travel to see their families. Train fares are extremely high and makes it out of the question for two people when you can do the same journey by car for less.
I'm behind the protesters and willing to join in any marches, etc. Petrol prices affect everyone as it puts the price of food and goods up. If this government is so worried about being green why do we need to have so many foreign trucks on our roads when they don't pay our road taxes and often the delivery is for Ireland. Goods should be put on goods trains at the nearest train station to the port where they have entered this country.

It does make you wonder how other Countries do it. They have more, they have cheaper fuel and no road tax in Germany. So why when we have such a high population can't we do this. Something is draining the reserves and they're not spending it on fixing the roads. I have to have a car to get to work and sometimes I think I would be better off leaving my job!!! Voting in someone else won't make any difference they seem to all be the same!!

I don't just object to derv being more expensive, but the margin of difference has increased in the past few weeks, too.

Before the prices hit £1, derv was usually only 2p more expensive, now it's anthing up to 5p more if you're not careful...clearly a subtle attempt to try to make petrol appear cheaper.

Soon it won't be any more beneficial running a diesel....!

The first poster says a "Socialist" Government? - This government is so far removed from socialism it's a bad joke.

We are the highest charged country in the world for fuel (excepting Zimbabwe) - we have a government that profit gouges the public at every chance through every form of taxation.

We should protest and we should also start to look at getting some MP's elected into Westminster that will set a realistic fuel price - start going after the cosy MP's who are driven in Government cars and never have to pay to get to their work.

Do MP's claim expenses for travelling from their home to their local constituency office? Where are they based for their work?

The only changes we can drive are by going after the MP's seats, they are driven by self-interest and that is the only thing that motivates them.

National Stay @ Home day - no fuel, no travel, no work.

The Government expects apathy don't give in.

The high cost of tax on our UK fuel is crippling industry, and hurting the individual, especially the older ones on fixed income. As tax is directly linked to the price of crude the Government just syphons off more and more money which they then waste bu the Millions.

Where would the government get the shortfall from if they reduced the fuel tax? Answer: increase taxes on cigarettes and alcohol! (As you might realize, I don't smoke and rarely drink).

How much more of this Govt are we going to take without resorting to Peaceful Protest!
We have been refused an Election, refused a Referendum, seen our data lost , seen gross incompetance within every Ministry of govt , seen our troops & police under paid and equiped, Hospitals dirty and Education falling behind whilst being stelth taxed to the hilt. The Fuel Tax issue is the last straw for me! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Oh dear. What a lot of socialist dinosaurs still prowl this country, looking to cause trouble for decent folks! Fuel protests were hopelessly anachronistic even 7 years ago - today they are TOTALLY ludicrous!

Listen, the price of petrol will never again be as cheap as it is now. Peak Oil has already hit and supplies of petrol will now diminish by around 5-7% a year - this will cause HUGE price increases. At the same time the news on Global Warming gets worse by the day - even if there was an unlimited supply of petrol we couldn't use it - at ANY price. Soon price won't be the only way of distributing precious oil reserves - I expect rationing within 3 to 5 years, and a price of around £3-£4 per litre. Make the most of our ridiculously cheap petrol now why you still can.

We all have to get used to giving up our cars and finding simpler ways of living. The socialists and hippies will howl at this, because they're too stupid to see what's happening, but those of us that aren't stupid are already reorganising our lives to make the transition as easy as possible.

Whilst our petrol is "only" the third highest in Europe, we have the highest priced derv... by a big margin.... and we're the only country in the EU that has derv that costs more than petrol.

Everything we use is delivered by derv vehicles... draw your own conclusions!

Why does the motorist always have to bear the rising costs of government mismangement. They squander the money on wars and on countries that would NEVER consider helping Britain in a crises, yet we are always giving them hand-outs.
We the motorists must stand up to the government and if they don't change their tactics, vote them out.
Don't believe all the twaddle about global warming either, it is all fabricated to extortion more money from the people. There was global warming in the days of the horse and cart, but no one blamed the horses .....

I think we need to let the politicians know that 'enough is enough' and remind them that they are our servants and not our masters. I'm sick to the back teeth with the bleatings of the green lobby. Motoring causes so little in terms of overall pollution and it is being taxed disproportionately. Whatever action needs taking, let's do it.

If the costs are analysed it is the fuel companies who should be targeted.
This Government hasm put up the tax 25%, the Tory Government put up the tax 127%, the Oil Giant have added over 200%.
They make huge profits for themselves, and tax is our money used for everyone's benefit.
If the base price is reduced, so is the tax

In reply to the following comment posted -

Fuel costs less today in comparative terms thanin 1995, This is all about hauliers and farmers wanting to put up taxes for the rest of us.

Lets face it your furel costs are tax deductable and vat reclaimable, not so for jo public.

Stop protesting and smell the coffee!!!

Posted by Ken Gregory, 14th December 2007 5:14pm

I would reply, that fuel costs are rising, business cannot claim this cost back, we can claim the VAT yes, but we still have to cover the costs, this means that our customer pay for it in collection charges and parts/service prices have to go up to cover the costs. We are in a rural area, no buses pass our door and a car is a must, we reduced are vechicle fleet last year due to running costs.

Keep the protest going. Businesses and Jo Public should BOTH pay less for fuel.

In the late 70's when traveling to France you would fill up in Dover as the fuel here was much cheaper. Now it is the other way round, all country's in Europe are cheaper than here with Luxembourg being the cheapest. As the previous person has said, France and Germany don't also have to pay road tax !!
I hope any protest wakes this government up.

I fully support any action taken to protest against fuel prices. I am reasonably well off and have a diesel car but I do a fairly high necessary mileage a week and the prices are crippling me. It is becoming unsustainable and the massive percentage the government takes is totally inexcusable. they could lower duty substantially and still be making more money per litre than they were 2 years ago. Enough is enough!

I still think that the option of boycotting 1 major retailer, would force the price change from the Petrol Company rather than a blanket protest. Let's face it, we all need fuel to get around, to work, to school etc, so were not going to stop buying fuel, no matter how high the prices go. BUT as consumers, we can manipulate the market by being strategic and working together. There are no viable alternatives to Petrol Cars, if there was i would seriously consider using one, but we can't all afford Lexus Hybrid cars, or even a Prius ( i know i'm that poor )

Lower the cost of fuel, increase road tax on gas guzzlers. A no brainer really. Those who choose to drive the latter will pay for the 'pleasure' of doing so whilst the rest of us won't be penalised for driving 'sensible' cars.

“fuel tax in the UK is not drastically higher than the rest of Europe. We are now only around 1% higher than countries such as Germany, France and the Netherlands.”

Interesting choice of European countries...

I drove across Europe last summer(!) and I noticed that while petrol in France was similar to the UK, prices in Spain and Italy were considerable cheaper.

I'm not so sure petitions will do anything, there seem to be hundreds of them being circulated via email, forums and websites for one thing or another.

Although I am all in favour of "peaceful" protests, I doubt this will have much of an impact either. A repeat of 2000 may well upset a lot of people, but you cannot argue the results did reduce prices and keep them sub £1.00 for a long time.

I have always said larger cars and in-efficient cars should pay the extra tax. But the increases are not reducing tax in other areas.

Motorists are always the subject to "mugging" from the government and police, but I don't see where this money is going to help the country. Referring back to my trip to Europe, driving in EVERY other country was better that motoring in the UK. Less congestion, less road works and better roads. I know some of the main motor routes are tolled, but at least you feel you are getting something for your money. They have numerous, safe places to stop with toilets and picnic areas. This is in addition to the services.

For what it's worth I'm on a bike for commuting at the moment so that's my two fingers up at the government.

Well that's my rant...

Merry Christmas

I have just come back from Germany Petrol there is still cheaper than here and they dont pay Road Tax.

Fuel is highly priced, and it is due to the tax. However, what do you want taxed instead to make up the short-fall?

Maybe you'd like the Road Fund Licence to jump to make up the difference (hitting those who use their cars less because we already can't afford the fuel disproportionately).

There is no simple answer - we get so many things and expect so many things from the government, and then demand it all for less and less. The onyl simple current answer would be to scrap the Olympics in 2012 and scrap the ID cards - then we'd have the money to chop the price of fuel. I've no problem with those two going!!

I fully support any protest that is about to happen, as a father of two on a pretty low income and have to travel 21 miles to work and the same home again these petrol prices are killing me !! I too have signed loads of on line petitions like gerald and with the same outcome, i would like to see some of the fat lazy government get by on a low income and still manage to keep their car on the road "legally" i am just managing it, and for those who think a car is a luxury mine is definetly not, as there are no public transport at 4:30 am for me to get to my work. I say good luck tomorrow and whatever else these protesters manage to pull off thank you.

long live freedom of protest

i agree with this ,if you need my help let me know.its all to expensive,cant keep up with it.

Fuel costs less today in comparative terms thanin 1995, This is all about hauliers and farmers wanting to put up taxes for the rest of us.

Lets face it your furel costs are tax deductable and vat reclaimable, not so for jo public.

Stop protesting and smell the coffee!!!

Of course we dont know whats best for us or we would not have voted in the bunch of un-reconstructed socialists in the Tory partys old clothes .
(I don't think any of the other non alternatives would be any better though)

As long as they don't start labelling people as "counter revolutionarys" we know were that leads, or is the phrase terrorist sympathisers more likely to be used so they can lock you up for six weeks without charge?

Are we getting over 2 US dollars to the earth UK Pound? and they still keep blaming the high dollar price for a barrel of oil??

If these clowns in government did away with the criminal fuel duty percentage fuel would still have the VAT and how much would fuel be per ltr then?

when you put £50 of fuel in your tank you don't start paying for the fuel until you get past the £42 mark!!!! who reports on that? the real cause of high fuel prices in the UK not the $ per barrel but the robbing government!

If anybody believes this Government will take any notice of petitions they should try it. I have signed numerous petitions on the Number 10 website and the reply is always "No" with a subsequent load of garbage about what is best for us. The only thing that will ever influence this Socialist regime is public protest and disruption. The bunch of wimps that call themselves a Government will always back down in the face of disruption.