Hauliers hurting

There is one big difference between the fuel protests of seven years ago and those causing the present disruption, including the convoy of lorries that clogged up the M8 between North Lanarkshire and Edinburgh for a time yesterday. In 2000, road hauliers took to the roads in protest at a series of steep rises in fuel duty in the previous decade. Hauliers are hurting today and, as in 2000, they want the Treasury to drop plans to increase duty on diesel and petrol in October. Motorists agree because they, too, are suffering from spiralling prices on the forecourt.