Red Diesel Tax Hike part 2

[Althorne]

After contacting my MP regarding the red diesel problem heading our way via the proposed increases wanted by the EC around 2005/2006 she got herself more than a little mixed up and presumably thought I was talking about the budget increase. Even then she got it so wrong it takes some believing. I quote........
"As even with the increase, a gallon of red diesel will only cost 25.56p, less than the cost of a cup of coffee, I do not think it will have much impact, unfairly on the working classes. (meaning our leisure costs and possible loss of jobs).
I wish I could still fill up for 25p a gallon. I regularly pay £1.80 gallon.
Well done Ms. Jackson. Another fully researched, correctly quoted Labour statement.
Suppose I'll have to write again explaining 'yet again' they misunderstood what a man of the people was saying.

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[DepSol]

Yes but you are unlikely to drink 5000 litres of coffee a year.

Second point is that Kim has nicely gone to the effort of making a diesel tax forum please can we put posts like this in there

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[kimhollamby]

Post location

Dom,

Not a problem if it lands in here -- I'll leave it two or three days and then transfer

Kim

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[davidbroad]

When lobbying, target ignorance may be a problem, but then every problem is an opportunity upside down! Educate her gently. rather than with obvious exasperation, and she could be your best friend and ally

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[ontheplane]

If you want to make more impact, rather than using the "fax your MP" site (which I do admit is pretty good) simply go to the Houses of Parliment website, look up your MP by putting in your postcode and then you'll have their e-mail addy.....

Then you can e-mail them direct and personalise it. They will reply (they have to it's their job) and if they are anything like mine they will listen to what you have to say.

The biggest danger red diesel faces is that the "greenies" who abhor the "waste" of any fossil fuel would love it taxed through the roof - and these are the guys who care about these things so much they tie themselves to trees, they sleep in ditches... in other words they DO SOMETHING. The only voice most MP's will hear is theirs unless we ALL - yep that is ALL - do something and start doing it now....

Don't let them win through our apathy.

(And yes, I have written to mine)

<hr width=100% size=1>Why can't we work 2 days a week and boat the other 5????

 

[Althorne]

Cannot imagine me and Glenda ever being buddies but take your point David and will give it a try....no guarantee's though, been around her too long!

And Depsol I wanted this to be a general forum post that's why it's here. Specialised forums have a habit of not being looked at by all who should be concerned and was fairly sure it would get interferred with somewhere along the line and end up on another forum?? (Hi Kim, keep up the good work)

and finally ontheplane what's with this 2 days work routine I prefer 7 days boating, anything wrong with that?????????

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[stiknstring]

Something of a red herring I am afraid on the subject of red diesel - but draw from it the inference you will.

Mere mention of Glenda Jackson's name makes my hackles go on end and here's why. I work for a transportation company that used to be part of the same group that operated a very successful shipping group. The parent group is a household name in the UK.

When it was becoming obvious that London's transportation system was quite incapable of supporting the numbers requiring use of it, the shipping company developed to a fine degree a plan to utilise the Thames in Central London for mass transportation. The plan was to radically change the capacity and have drop off stations in many more areas than are currently used. The company were going to pay for all the investment involved but needed as a prerequisite certain Government guarantees on the utilisation to be allowed. Sounds good? Well, that's what we all thought so we sent off a senior shipping executive to meet Glenda ( then Minister of Transport) to make his pitch. He came back red-faced within two hours. After explaining the concept to her clearly (he is extremely erudite) and in language that even an MP can understand, it became clear that it had gone clear above her head. OK, let's try again he thought and explained it again with infinite care. Ah, said the great actress, now I understand and proceeded to display a total lack of mastery of the issue. How come, Roger, we said? It's simple , he said - she's simply not the sharpest tool in the box! The project was abandoned soon after as the Minister of Transport was just not up to the job to take in any of the basic concepts.

So trying to convince someone like Glenda Jackson of your case is going to take alot of hard work and frustration. Trying to convince someone of low intellect but who may already have made up her mind that this is an unfair benefit to "rich" boaters and "rich" farmers is a doubly difficult job. I think you will have to spread your net alot wider than the likes of Glenda Jackson.

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[Althorne]

Hi,
Just popped in today to have a quick squint and really have to agree with you on many counts regarding the dear lady? and know it will be all up hill however if we don't all keep plugging away the b*****ds will keep winning too easily.
Enjoy the ARC, too late for me but I don't mind I just love my boat.

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