Are we ready to protest petrol price increases?

RoseFairy

Is it me or does it seem quiet that no one is protesting petrol prices. last time there were blockades etc and now just because we had a 'pre-warning' that petrol would be +£1 per litire - and now its creeping up couple of pence - nothing seems to be happening. it seems only a couple of months ago we were paying something like 86p - though high but acceptable.

are we accepting these prices ? we are all being forced and controlled and can't do thing about it - or can we - :mad:

peter_the_piper

Its just as bad with central heating fuel, its gone from 30p litre last year to 45p litre this. Can't see what we can do. Government sitting back, rubbing hands, thinking of all the extra duty and Vat they're getting. We live in the country so bus and train are not an option.

SEE

RoseFairy wrote: »

Is it me or does it seem quiet that no one is protesting petrol prices. last time there were blockades etc and now just because we had a 'pre-warning' that petrol would be +£1 per litire - and now its creeping up couple of pence - nothing seems to be happening. it seems only a couple of months ago we were paying something like 86p - though high but acceptable.

are we accepting these prices ? we are all being forced and controlled and can't do thing about it - or can we - :mad:

I agree and there should be organised blockades. Petrol in Birmingham is £1,07 a litre:mad:

marleyboy

BLockades just take it out on those who arent to blame, I may not agree with the price of fuel (in fact I DONT!). But I certainly dont agree with someone stopping me from purchasing any as a result of it.

I dont agree with how high rent is for property, should we brick up all rented flats and houses, refusing to allow any tenents access until that is resolved?

scbk

marleyboy wrote: »

BLockades just take it out on those who arent to blame, I may not agree with the price of fuel (in fact I DONT!). But I certainly dont agree with someone stopping me from purchasing any as a result of it.

Whats the point in a blockade if it doesn't block anything?


Oh and there's no plans for any action before christmas. After then is when the fun begins....

stugib

I supported the blockades last time, but in hindsight I think it was pretty much a form of terrorism on behalf of groups with a vested business interest, so I wouldn't support the anything along the same lines this time. If the Government had given hauliers a 20p/l discount they would have lifted it immediately and sod the rest of us. I have no idea what the farmers were moaning about but suspect it was politically convenient.

There's no way one group should be able to cripple the economy, particularly in the current climate, to blackmail the government to respond to short-term issues. What if green campaigners blockaded the refineries to prevent anyone getting any fuel - that is equally valid: an interest group taking direct action at the expense of others.

AFAICS the rises in the past few months have about 2.5p tax and ~8p because of the price of oil. That's just supply and demand and I can't see that the government can respond on a week-to-week basis on what the duty is, so it's got to be a long-term change, weighed up against transport and environmental policies, and raising taxes elsewhere if you want to cut fuel tax by a significant amount and still invest in services.

What I think is unfair is that VAT is charged on the duty, so the tax is itself taxed. I doubt we can remove VAT on fuel but it should be as close to a fixed amount of tax per litre until the tax is deliberately changed, and not go up when the underlying price goes up. Then everyone knows where they stand. But I expect oil is going to be very expensive for the forseeable future, so should the government change all its tax and spending plans for the next 5-10 years just because oil is expensive now?

Protests only work if you are clear exactly what you want to achieve, and can justify why something should change. The amount of tax isn't significantly different from what it was 6 or 12 months ago, but people only start to complain and threaten action when other reasons cause the headline price to go up. So who are you going to protest to? The Chinese for needing more oil? The Americans for storing reserves? OPEC for not producing enough per day?

albertross_2

We all have the vote don't we. The country keeps voting for higher taxes, so that's what we get.

davetrousers

Have a look at how the cost (in US$) of Brent Crude Oil has gone up in 12 months. link

southernscouser

Lets be honest, what did the protests achieve last time other than a great deal of hassle for people?

It hasn't kept prices low has it?

And is the price of petrol really that extortionate? People happily pay more than that for a litre of water or beer.

Someone else said earlier, it's all very well protesting and having a go at Shell, BP etc but it's the government who take the biggest cut and by a long way. You want to protest? Knock on number 10's door or don't vote Labour!

pinkshoes

As much as I hate the high petrol prices, it's still a cheaper alternative to public transport for most journeys!

Yes, over £1/litre sucks, but a blockade is mostly going to hit the commuters who have no alternative method of getting to work. (And given cost of everything else, most of us can't afford to not go to work!)

I have a 30 minute drive door to work, costing about £3.50 (return) in petrol per day. If I had to take the bus, it would take me around 1 hour 45 mins, and cost over £7!

Personally I think we should have some sort of scheme where the price per litre of petrol depends on the efficiency of your car engine:

i.e. those vehicles that do 40mpg pay 60p/litre, and those that do 20mpg pay £1.60/litre etc...

Not sure how that could be implemented though!

albertross_2

Price per mile is already linked to the efficiency of car engines, as is road tax.