New Labour Executive Losing Ability to Set Taxes

The Leader is being challenged on a second tax rise imposed, in his last budget before ousting the elected prime minister, last year. This time the challenge comes from outside Parliament. The 2p rise in fuel duty, on which a delay until next October has been forced already, will now be contested across the United Kingdom by campaigners organised by the the People's Fuel Lobby. As well, Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland has begun shutting down as threatened industrial action by the trade union Unite, in defence of its members wages and conditions, is met by action to protect the plant by Ineos management.

Major parliamentary,Party, popular, industrial and union challenges to Executive decisions to tax us even more heavily are gathering speed and strength. There is only one way to resolve such widespread and effective challenges to government authority under a democracy. The voters should be offered party manifestos that embody their choices, and consulted in a General Election on who they want to exercise power.

UPDATE

John Hutton, Minister Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform took emergency powers yesterday. These include: police impounding lorries, arresting drivers and stripping them of their operators' licences; invoking anti-terror laws; rationing petrol and ring fencing supplies to privileged users, mobilising troops. Police already have powers to break-up blockades of oil refineries, and clear petrol station forecourts and approaches of queueing motorists.