UK hauliers warned blockades 'could cost lives'

LONDON, England -- The British government stepped up its battle with fuel protesters for public hearts and minds on Thursday, saying that threatened oil blockades could cost lives.

Home Secretary Jack Straw, aware that panic buying could spark a new crisis at any moment, stressed the government was not seeking confrontation.

But he told parliament that the army, police and oil companies were geared up to keep petrol supplies flowing, roads open and food depots working.

Straw has also published a list of about 180 allegations of intimidation against tanker drivers during the fuel protest.

In September, anger at the highest fuel duty in Europe boiled over and refineries were ringed by truckers and farmers who managed to bring the country to a virtual standstill -- something seen as unthinkable in the 21st century.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's ratings plunged, handing opposition Conservatives a lead for the first time since 1992.

Now, Blair is gambling that warnings of health emergencies and food shortages will turn the public against the ramshackle alliance which is threatening to repeat protests in weeks if demands for swingeing fuel tax cuts are not met.

"The demands they have made could not be met without great damage to jobs and industry, to essential services ... to pensioners and children," Straw said.

"Disruption would hit the weakest and most vulnerable first," he said. "The right to argue, to complain and to protest is an essential feature of our democratic society. Threatening the well-being of the country is not."

Among the allegations of intimidation against drivers compiled by the oil companies and released by Straw were a haulier being followed home by several protesters who threatened that they knew where he lived and a brick being thrown through a cab window.

While dismissed by campaigners as exaggeration and propaganda, Straw said: "Tactics of intimidation are unacceptable in any circumstances, but particularly so against the driver of an oil tanker in personal charge of many thousands of litres of highly explosive fuel."

Few doubt there is widespread anger about petrol prices, which have soared in recent years.

There is little history of direct action from "stiff upper lip" Brits. But even if Blair gets the public onside, panic buying could spark a new crisis.

Thursday's newspapers splashed on the first signs of panic at some petrol stations.

Blair's official spokesman said it was vital that everyone, including the media, behaved responsibly.

Oil companies Esso, BP Amoco and Shell have rushed out denials that there were any signs of panic buying, but they admitted that even best-laid contingency plans could be wiped out in no time at all by a mass rush on petrol.

The People's Fuel Lobby, the group at the heart of the campaign, wants a fuel duty cut of 26.2 pence from the current 48 pence, to bring it in line with the European Union average.

Treasury officials say that would cost the government 11.8 billion pounds ($17 billion) in tax revenue, equivalent to four pence on income tax or massive cuts in public spending.

Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister) Gordon Brown will unveil plans for his forthcoming budget next week. Sources say he will do something for the fuel lobby but nothing like what they demand.

Campaigners set a deadline of November 13 for the government to slash fuel duty before mounting more disruption. As a start, they are threatening to send a convoy of 25,000 vehicles at a snail's pace from north-east England to London.

David Handley, chairman of the People's Fuel Lobby, said he was being ignored by Brown. "We've been forced into a corner. We've got a government that is not prepared to listen," he said.

Oil giant Shell stirred another element into the volatile mix on Thursday, reporting quarterly profits above $3 billion -- a figure unlikely to impress hard-pressed hauliers.

Reuters contributed to this report.

In depth: Europe's Fuel Crisis
Fuel crisis could endanger life: NHS
September 12, 2000
Fuel crisis: 'Instinct to survive' prompts panic buying
September 13, 2000
First British fuel blockade ends
September 14, 2000
EU ministers mull fuel crisis
September 20, 2000

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