fuel protest

   A series of fuel protests were held in the United Kingdom in 2000 over the high level of duty payable on diesel and petrol, involving the owners of small businesses (in the road haulage and other industries) and farmers. Their direct action began on 7 September with the picketing of an oil refinery in Cheshire and spread rapidly. Within a few days, hardly any fuel was being delivered to fuel stations throughout Britain. As motorists engaged in panic-buying, shortages of fuel quickly developed.

   The Government did not immediately back down under pressure, but in November the Chancellor of the Exchequer felt able to make a concession, freezing fuel duties until the following budget and making other changes that effectively reduced the price of petrol and diesel. At first, there was plenty of popular and media sympathy for the protesters. It began to melt away, as the consequences of the confrontation became apparent. Further protests took place in September 2005, but on a much smaller scale. The protests have been typical of the new breed of popular movement. They possess a loose and decentralised organisational structure and communication is conducted via the latest means of technology.