WHO LISTENS TO HAULIERS?
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I read with interest in last week's Commercial Motor the Sound Off by Bernard Jenkin MP, Shadow Transport Minister (CM 3-9 May). Three years ago, I wrote to every MP detailing the problems facing our industry. As a result Bernard Jenkin asked me to meet with him to discuss these problems in greater detail.
During our meeting, it was obvious that Bernard was unaware of the vast cost differences facing our industry against foreign haulier competition, especially due to cabotage restrictions ending. However, he listened, understood and has since vehemently attacked the government taxation policies upon our industry.
I have twice met Bernard since this first meeting. He has visited Burton on Trent to meet local hauliers, listened to their own accounts of problems fac-. ing us all and has held similar meetings with other hauliers throughout the country. The fact that Bernard (a regular reader of Commercial Motor and also an HGV licence holder!) has written to Sound Off is in itself proof that he is genuinely concerned about our industry.
When did John Prescott ever bother to meet us or write to us through the trade press?
Of course, if the Tories are returned to government they will be expected to act on their pledges. The 3p/lit reduction they have promised will not solve our problems, but it is a move in the right direction and a reduction nonetheless. Compare this with the vast duty increases imposed under Labour!
Our message to politicians now must be that we need clear, coherent policies on road transport issues—not another dose of knee-jerk reactions and hollow promises to the crisis situation the government found itself in last year during the fuel protests.
Had they listened to us from the start and acted, this situation would never have happened. We, as an industry and as voters, must now consider who will best serve our profession's interests. Who's listened to our problems and who has not? Who's pledged to help us on issues such as fuel tax, illegal immigrant fines, Working Time Directives etc—and who's proven during the past four years that they couldn't care less? It's your vote.
lair Lacey, Derbyshire.