Farmers threaten fuel-price protests
RURAL campaigners threatened nationwide protests yesterday unless ministers tackle soaring fuel costs.
Farmers For Action spoke out for businesses struggling with petrol price rises that have left a litre of unleaded 16.3p dearer than a year ago. Ministers have been given a two-week deadline to come up with proposals before the disruption begins. FFA chairman David Handley said: “If we get nothing back, then protests will take place as a matter of priority.”
Between mid-December and the middle of this month average petrol prices increased from 122.14p per litre to a new record of 128.27p.
Over the same period, diesel rocketed from an average 126.19p a litre to 132.75p a litre. Extra fuel duty at the beginning of the year – along with the VAT increase to 20 per cent, higher wholesale costs and rising oil prices – have accounted for the bulk of the latest increases.
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For a two-car family, the monthly petrol bill has increased by £34.61.
More than half of British drivers say they have cut car use because of the high cost of fuel.