They've just interviewed Andrew Spence, the Haulier, Farmer and all-round Yorkie-Munching f***tard who is organising the "peaceful" protests up here in the north east.
PETER ALLAN: Why are you protesting then
ANDREW SPENCE: Because the government has put the tax up which has pushed prices past £1 a litre
PA: No they haven't, duty is less than it was the last time you protested.
AS: yes they have, prices have gone up 20p this year
PA: Thats not the government's fault though, they haven't put the tax up
AS: We're still paying 67p a litre in tax because they've put it up
PA: Except that they haven't have they?
AS: Yes they have, Brown's made £10bn in VAT this year!
PA: Thats not the tax though is it.
AS: Look, none of us know how much tax we're paying! He won't tell us. And the prices have gone up 20p a litre becasue of the tax
It went on a bit longer talking about how many truckers would turn up to "not block the refineries". Apparently he's expcting the 300 or so who went to Jarrow last time - someone should point out that 300 trucks congregating around a refinery entrance will completely block access to it whatever he says.
At least we know why Mr Spence is protesting - because the government has put tax up which has pushed prices past £1 a litre. What a moron.
Ian
There is a bottom line...which is that market forces aside...there is no reason why fuel should be taxed any higher than other goods....the duty should come right down to 17.5% VAT. If Brown says this tax revenue is needed...let's have an itemised account of where it is being spent (Iraq?....chav-scum layabouts?....). And if this money *IS* genuinely needed for essential services...what the hell do they plan to do when people can no longer afford to drive...there is a tipping point... A point where owning a car becomes ecomomically unviable....and quickly followed by working any distance from home becoming equally unviable....with a burgeoning benefit budget....and falling tax revenues from lower car use.....what will be taxed to make up the deficit? They'll have to tax something else that we all need.....love!..they could have a love tax!! (You'll probebly get off ('scuse the pun) fairly lightly with this tax...though if they start taxing wanks too....yoou'd better file for bankruptcy).
