2000-2010 United Kingdom fuel pricing protests

Background
In 1993 the Conservative government created the 'fuel price escalator'. By 2000, tax accounted for 81.5% of the total cost of unleaded petrol, up from 72.8% in 1993. The escalator had risen from inflation + 3% to inflation + 6%, and VAT had gone up from 15% to 17.5%. The escalator was scrapped in early 2000.

The global crude oil price had increased from $10 to $30 a barrel, so British drivers were now paying an average of 80 pence a litre for unleaded and 80.8p for diesel.

The 1999 London protest rally
lorry drivers protested in London against rising fuel prices. They announced their intentions for a nationwide campaign.

2000
The Conservative Party organised a day of protest on 29 July 2000 and blamed the Labour government for it during thire quasi-political campaigning.

Cause Belli
Motorists being urged not to visit petrol stations on 1 August 2000, with forecourts in the North-West being hit the hardest, some reporting a 50% drop in business. It's support was marginal elsewhere. The event was known as "Dump the Pumps" and "Boycott the Pumps campaign".

The event
Stanlow Refinery near Ellesmere Port in Cheshire was blockaded by Farmers for Action, led by David Handley on 8 September 2000

Over the next few days, pickets were reported at Milford Haven oil terminal and Avonmouth oil terminal and several facilities for a limited period in Yorkshire, North West England and the Scottish Borders and demanding that the government reduce fuel taxes.

Sept 12 Deliberately slow-moving convoys of lorries caused traffic jams on the M1 and M5 motorways.

It was called off on September 16th after Ambulances and food delivery firms were running out of fuel in some places.

The Conservatives called for mor protests and the slashing of fule taxes, the Liberal democrats a and

Consequences
The London Chamber of Commerce reported that it cost businesses £250 million a day and the Institute of Directors estimated the cost to UK businesses at £1 billion.

In his pre-Budget report of 8 November, the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, announced the taxing of foreign lorries using British roads, a cut in duty on ultra-low sulphur petrol, a freeze on fuel duty for other grades of fuel until at least April 2002 (effectively ending the fuel duty escalator) and placing more vehicles into the lower vehicle excise duty (VED) band.

Cause Belli
UK fuel prices exceeded £1 per litre in mid 2007 with a 2 pence rise in fuel tax in October, resulting in the highest diesel prices and the fourth highest for petrol in Europe. The RHA wanted fuel price regulator who would control road fuel duty.

The event
Transaction 2007 called for a oil refinery blockade (a block of trucks driving at around 40 miles per hour (64 km/h), blocking al 3 motorway lanes) and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) rolling roadblocks by around 30 vehicles.

The Scottish branch of the RHA proposed a rolling roadblock by around 30 vehicles, whereas Transaction 2007 intended to protest outside oil refineries.

Reaction
The blockade was a failure and the number of rolling roadblock had 45 vehicles and hit several motorways.

Consequences
Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland supported the RHA of Scotland. The government took no long term action.

Cause Belli
High UK fuel prices.

The event
There a planned fuel strike on saturday 1st may, designed to impact the proposed uk general election on may 6th.

Reaction
It was called off.

Consequences
Non.

Modern fuel tax
The UK had Europe's highest or second highest rates in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016.

Fuel tax was frozen at 59% in 2011 and did not go up with inflation that year. It went up by 3p in the £ during 2014 to 61%, but this was later reversed due to public pressure.

The government then agreed to increase fuel duty by RPI plus 1 penny per litre as of 2012.