Stop press, there are petrol protests scheduled for today. Police are warning that they won't put up with any nonsense and will break up trouble if they have to.
The thing is, I've just been listening to BBC London and it concurs with the new report on The Independent's website: the demonstrations simply aren't happening in numbers (which could of course change anytime between now and the end of the next three days). And again, where I live the petrol queues simply aren't visible. I'm not doubting the accuracy of the reports appearing in the papers, just suggesting that it's not as universal a problem as it might appear if you read rather than look.
So what we have is a petrol price that fell back yesterday for the first time since June; no immediate prospect of a protest that bars petrol from reaching the pumps, which isn't a surprise when as the Guardian's leader points out, the farmers already get a 50 per cent discount on fuel. And as the BBC's economics correspondent Evan Davies pointed out on the 10.00 news yesterday, high fuel prices are all that motivate car manufacturers to increase vehicle efficiency and reduce emissions, so they have their part to play. Skillfully, though, this country has managed to create an apparent shortage.
The agitators put forward arguments that Belgium, France and others have managed to fund cuts in duty on fuel and so should we. But then look at these income tax rates for France. If you earn as little as £10,000 per annum - touch £17-£18,000 and you'll pay 37.8 per cent. Yes, people complain about indirect taxes over here and they may have a point, but are the protesters really going to welcome a hike like that?
Meanwhile it's inconvenience for individuals and a lot of difficulties for businesses with fleet cars, haulage firms and anyone else who uses transportation as part of their enterprise. And there is honestly, honestly, no shortage or any immediate danger of one.
