FALSE DAWN FROM BLAIR?
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I don't wish to rain on your parade but I was surprised to see you falling for the usual cynical New Labour tactics in your article "Tony Blair gives FTA hope" (CM27 Jan-2 Feb).
Our beloved Prime Minister seems to have treated the Freight Transport Association delegation exactly as he treats every other group—telling them what he thinks they want to hear, in the form of vague and vacuous charm, while making no firm commitment to actually do anything.
His message is "we're listening, be patient and trust us". However, if the government had any intention of easing the plight of hauliers they would have done so by now, rather than increasing costs through the fuel escalator and VED.
They don't do anything for the haulage industry because, despite all their covert tax hikes, they cannot afford another hole in their finances so close to a General Election, so they are giving the FTA, which they have over a barrel, the same line as they give everybody else.
Put faith in a non-specific hint made by Blair or any member of his government, or even in one of his famous (or infamous) "early pledges" and you will wait for a very long time for any tangible response.
Christopher Davenport, Birmingham,