To run trucks in the UK you have to have an operator licence, pass CPC exams, pay insurance & road tax, Mot it, put fuel in (tax @ 50ppl). Employ a driver? You pay his tax & NI. The vehicle must be safety checked every SIX WEEKS. EU trucks do none of this & offer nothing to UK plc. Fair?

Danny, Denbigh, North Wales

It's not just the hauliers that are struggling with higher fuel prices, ordinary families are facing problems and insecurity. I have to travel 80 miles a day in order to get to/from work, I have seen my fuel bill soar from £40 to £60 a week. Cut the extortionate duty now! It's just govt. greed.

ed, Hants, UK

This government is reaping what it has sown... imagine the despair of the PM who, having cemented into place so much state expense - does not now have any room to manouver.
Why do labour think this is in any way a beneficial scenario.

Richard Mee, Cambridge, UK

Tax all lorries coming into the UK for the equivalent tax on a full tank of fuel. That way everyone pays the same.

Why can't we all have a rebate on our fuel anyway.

Dave Kinsley, derby, uk

Good luck chaps - Brown says he's listening, lets see how he proves it today.

Ross Liversidge, Ripon, UK

More people needs to protest to send the government a message that Tax is too high in the UK. The idea of going to work is so we can afford to feed our selves and take care of our families. Tax is to be used to keep the country running.

Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK

Perhaps if they cut back on the allowance for second homes and having their kitchens decorated it would free up some money to cut the fuel tax a little!? I have to pay to decorate my kitchen, why can't MPs'? How does a nice new kitchen help them at work!?

Lisa, London,

Are we seriously expected to believe that a British firm transporting goods between Manchester and Newcastle will be undercut by Jonny Foreigner, stopping to fill up in Calais? The hauliers seem to forget about the expensive road tolls that operate throughout most of Europe.

Steve, Bristol, UK

What do trains run on? Fresh Air! Who delivers the goods from the trains to the distribution centres? If it's in your home it comes down a wire, through a pipe or on the back of a lorry. It's not the truckers asking for payrises - but why not? their cost of living is going up too.

Anne, Boston,

There are plenty of things I am angry about but unfortunately I don't have a huge lorry with which to cause havoc and make my points.

Sorry lorry drivers, however strong your case, NO government should consider yielding to these tactics.

Brian Lec, Brighton, England

Don't forget the addtional 17.5% VAT that is charged on the fuel tax!!!

John Ford, Bath,

Why hasn't the government thought of introducing the scheme they have in Austria where foreign vehicles must buy a permit to use the roads equivalent to fuel duty? This would mean foreign trucks paying taxes just like UK based ones. It's probably too clever for the incompetents in our government!

Phil, Rugby, England unfortunately

Essential use? Does that mean no more driving on our holidays in this country...do we now all have to go abroad for our holidays?

Dave, Harlow, UK

We could hand over taxation policy to the EU and hope for the best. Unfortunately, the pension schemes of many EU countries are unfunded not to mention the unquantifiable costs of decommissioning French nuclear reactors. By handing taxation policy to the EU, the UK will end up paying for these.

Ian M Jones, Reading, UK

Why dont the haulage companies just put up their prices? Why should it come as a subsidy from the Government? If they dont or cant put up prices then supply is greater than demand. Some will go out of business until demand meets supply and they can push up prices.The govt has no spare cash!

Ian Jones, Tokyo, Japan

The people are all suffering NOW due to the Labour stoked oil crisis. I don't see the government cutting back, because they are the only ones profiteering. That is all they ever do. They need to cut tax NOW!
It may actually do the country some good. The only other medecine is a general election.

Neil, Maidstone,

About time we hand over powers of taxation to the EU.
In a common market why should there be big diffrences in prices of products such as fuel and fags.
The biggest factor hindering price harmonisation throughout Europe is greedy governments, I pay for the EU but I do not get any of the benifits.

Neelkumar Patel, Peterborough, UK

Gordon Brown, just cut the fuel tax. Then next time the Nurses, or the Teachers, or the Police, or the Firemen, or our brave boys in Iraq want a payrise, send them along to the RHA and all the whinging lorry drivers and maybe they'll fund their wage increase.

Douglas Newell, Saltcoats, UK

We need is an overall reduction in fuel duty. Our fuel is some of the cheapest in Europe until the Government sticks on the duty and tax. They are doing this under the "green" banner which is the wrong thing to do.
This is all propping up Brown's failing economy. 10% tax band defecit anybody?

Tony, Brighton, UK

You might not sympathise with hauliers, but who else is going to bring your groceries to the local Tesco?

The higher the cost of fuel (ergo rate of duty applied on top) the more expensive your weekly shop.

The government don't give a rats about the environment. Its tax, tax, tax.

Paul, London,

You people are right , they shouldn't demonstrate , they should just let their businesses collapse . Then they can be replaced by foreign haulage companies that don't contribute to our road tax but help rip our roads to shreds .

Benzo , Nr Chelmsford,

I agree with Brendan but until we can get more rail freight, we are stuck with the status quo and this apology for a Government are doing nothing to alleviate the hauliers costs. Guess who will ultimately pay for the rise in freight costs.......

Colin, Wokingham, UK

This is a time of touch challenge for Gordon Brown's negotiation abilities. I feel that a reduction of 20 to 25p per litre on fuel is a reasonable demand in order to allow fair competition with other EU hauliers. Buses and coaches are already receiving rebates, why cant lorries be next in line?

Sandhir Ruttun, London, Uk

Gordon is not listning, and in the end he and labour will pay the price for their actions and will loss the next election, as lets face its not only lorry drivers who are hurting.

It cost me £780 a year to drive thought the mersey tunnel just to go to work, another labour tax!

MR W Jones, Liverpool, England

Help! I'm a software engineer being undercut by bright sparks in Asia, can the government subsidise me?

While I do think fuel tax is too much, the lorry drivers shouldn't kid themselves, they are not disposable, pretty much like the rest of us. You are not a speacial case!

Patrick Bateman, London,

Good lads, we all need to do this. This government is greedy and supports lazy individuals & completelly ruins lives of working people.

SS, Liverpool,

I am not sure whether 'Luddites' or 'Neanderthals' best describes the hauliers who intend demonstrating this week. Oil is a finite resource and is running out very rapidly. Anything that encourages greater consumption is highly irresponsible. Governments have known this was going to happen for years

Gwyn, Porthaethwy,

Why are the RHA a special case, the rest of us have to cope with rising fuel prices too you know...

Andy Davies, Glos, UK,

Totally agree. Brown should stop using peoples means of transport as a cash cow and come into line with the EU.
It has to asked what exactly is he spending this money on?

Philip Hare, Stockport, UK

What about companies who need cars and vans to run thier day to day business, They are getting crippled by this as well.
Rural communities who dont have good bus services. maybe we should get a rebate on the council tax?
The problem is Brown needs every penny they can get.

Andy, Petersfield,

Let's get more freight moving by train.

Brendan, Kingston, Uk

The M4 is also closed in west London because of an accident that happened earlier this morning , which could add to the congestion..

Jim, London,

What I cant understand, is the number of people who are angry at the lorry drivers. They are doing this for you and I. We should be thankful someone has the temerity to stand up and do something!

Arthur, Newcastle,

This really makes me mad. Define "essential use"? I work and need to get here using fuel along with millions of others. I am an essential user and so are we all. The government is not only making duty but massive tax on the additional profit from fuel companies. Let us all have a share of that.

Jason, Redditch, UK