David Vance SubstackRead More
It started in Ireland but it won’t end there. I am talking about mass revolt against the fuel prices that we are having to pay.
The Irish protests are now a nationwide backlash against soaring petrol and diesel prices. Hauliers, farmers, and contractors have al blocked roads and fuel depots, disrupting traffic and threatening fuel shortages for emergency services and forecourts. Their main demands are lower fuel costs, often through cuts to excise duty, VAT, or carbon tax, plus direct government action on prices.
The protests have caused serious disruption in Dublin and other parts of the country, and officials warned that the blockades could put fuel supply chains under severe strain. Here is an example of what I am talking about.
Now to understand this, we need to understand that Irish diesel has risen from about €1.72/L before the war to around €2.10/L by 6 April and as high as €2.18/L in the latest weekly data. That means the six-week increase was roughly 46 cents per litre, or about 27%.
The Irish Government has responded to the blockades with thuggish violence
It is said that if these protests continue, the majority of petrol stations will be out of fuel by Monday morning and Ireland will come to a halt.
It’s not JUST the Irish that are fed up, there are plans for protests where I live in Northern Ireland next Tuesday and indeed across the rest of the UK.
It doesn’t stop there. This is in France.
Across Europe, the pain of the the energy spike is being felt and drivers, farmers and business need help. But many Governments, such as that in the UK, appear indifferent. Cuts in fuel duty, reductions in VAT – they have options but of course they reduce tax take and so there is reluctance to do much
This is where people power can make a difference. I support all those taking to the streets and roads. We are ALL being ripped off by our Governments and it’s time that was ended.
