No fuel protests?

[David H]

Now petrol is �1 a litre (mainly tax) why do you think there are no fuel protests? Is everyone happy or resigned to it now, and will they accept �2 in the same way as well?

[jno]

good grief, in a bit of a hurry aren't you?

[brionon]

Yes and the price will half -then we can start on the price of Beer.

[David H]

In a hurry? How long should we wait? �1.50, �2? shortages and queues?

There's another 2p going on in a few months (that's about 9p a gallon for those who want the true cost) and forecasts show no potential end to the rise in the price of oil. Meanwhile the dollar is falling so the oil price for us is little changed but they still use it as a reason to raise the prices.

Do you enjoy being ripped off? It affects public transport fares and every commodity you buy as well, not just car drivers.

[cambus]

Shortages and queues will only be caused by people like yourself.

[jno]

of course there's no end to rising prices of anything (unless you're in Japan); that's inflation for you. But inflation has been pretty low for many years now. I remember 20% years ago - that was just unmanageable. The cost of oil is mostly determined by soaring demand in China and India.

[Bewlay Bros]

I think it was summed up on the TV. If people are happy to spend �1+ on a litre of water when it is (near enough) free from the tap, folk will spend the same and more on petrol.

[fletcher.5]

I agree, there is a tendency in this country were people are resigned to accept price rises in the much needed commodities, & the powers that be are fully aware of the fact.
The problem is, when the US scum sneeze, everybody else catches the cold.

[Whickerman]

Your govt imposed a 'green' tax that did nothing to help decrease travel - because it couldn't, in the modern world people travel for all reasons.

Therefore that portion of tax should surely be removed?

In effect, you guys are paying 50% more for petrol than we are in Ireland. And the price is crippling here. Also, here we pay exactly double what they pay in the US...

[anotheoldgit]

The once proud fighting spirit of the English no longer exists, we will put up with anything these days.

I think it is something they put in the food, or more likely we are just plain lazy to get off our behinds to protest.

[diana.m]

I too am alarmed at the price of petrol. But what kind of protest can we make and would any type of protest make a difference? Its disgusting the amount of taxes we all have to pay in this country. Will the high cost perhaps make us think twice about making unneccessary journeys. Dont really think so!

[David H]

Whickerman had it in one. Petrol is an inelastic commodity as few people choose to travel except for holidays, or they could just stop having a social life and only use it for work. The Labour government had a hard time managing after having to cut income tax like the tories to get back in and this was easily the best way to get a lot back, sod the public who supported them (not me) as they were just a means to an end.

The cost of oil is a very small part of what we pay as I said originally, the government fix the price and the oil price part can be seen in American and third world type prices which are what we were paying in the 70s. The first thing the communists did was restrict travel and this is what all these wonderful new 'save the planet' taxes are doing. I am so pleased our country is the first to have a climate change bill. Now I'm beginning to find out what it must be like to be under totalitarian rule. A thousand pounds says the Americans won't have one.

Even the met office have just revealed the temperatures peaked in 1998 but no one seemed to have noticed.