New Labour, new nails in the coffin
Page 26
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Thepoor old UK haulier thought he could see a glimpse of light at the end of the long dark tunnel. As January 1999 got ever nearer, he was to become a fully fledged Euro Haulier with 40-tonne five-axle 2+3 artics. He would be able to compete with payloads on equal terms, alongside the rest of Europe's road hauliers.
In anticipation of January 1999 he went to his truck dealer and spent vast amounts of money equipping himself ready to compete.
Never once did he imagine that someone was going to turn the light off when he was just yards away from the end of the tunnel, leaving him to bang his head very severely against the walls of the now very dark tunnel.
He started back down the tunnel, holding his head and occasionally stopping, as he groped in the darkness to steal a glance to where the light had been, and wondering what sort of people could have led him to believe that there was some hope for the UK haulier, and then let him down so badly.
Eventually, he arrived back at the gloomy end of the tunnel and now with one last glance into the tunnel, which had promised so much, he set off alone.
He looked around as he went to see if any of the associations and journals he had subscribed to for all those years were going to support him in his hour of need. He knew he should know better, for they had never really done anything but take his subscription money and speak empty promises.
At last, he arrived at the big door and above it was written "Bank". No-one who entered this door in similar circumstances left with any hope of a life. As he entered he heard laughter. He turned to look and there, pointing fingers at him and laughing, was New Labour and a supporting cast which made his blood run cold, for it was the associations and journals, now obsessed, chanting "3+3, 3+3".
With that, the door closed and another haulier bit the dust.
G Broaclley, Graeme Broadiey Transport, York.