13 April 2012

A new wave of protests over rising petrol prices have been postponed following the Government's pledge to review an increase in fuel duty.

Campaigners said today all protests - except one tomorrow in Cardiff - would be put on hold following the announcements by the Prime Minister and Chancellor to re-examine at the planned 2p-a-litre tax rise.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he would review the planned duty increase and Chancellor Gordon Brown announced last night he would make a decision on the increase in August.

This morning, Andrew Spence, senior spokesperson for the Fuel Lobby, said it was "too late in the day to postpone" Cardiff, but demonstrations across the country on Wednesday would not now go ahead.

They had been "go slow" protests planned for cities including Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and London on the eve of local, London mayoral and European elections.

He said: "With Gordon Brown's remarks yesterday, we feel it is a positive sign in the right direction. We are being sensitive at the moment, especially when the Government is making positive dialogue, so we are prepared to give Mr Brown the benefit of the doubt and see what his proposals are.

"We are planning to hold a number of meetings with Government officials in the coming weeks to argue our case.

"The Government is not wanting to seek protests and we are not wanting to carry out protests."

But he warned: "This is only a postponement and if we do not get the continuation of positive dialogue, there will be no more warnings given."

David Handley, chairman of Farmers for Action, said: "We met last night following Gordon Brown's announcement that he is reconsidering increasing duty in September and also the fact that with the move from Opec yesterday we certainly will not be taking further action for the next two to three weeks.

"Gordon Brown has clearly indicated he is going to look and go back and reinvestigate the increase. We feel we should give him two to three weeks - you can still protest in September."

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