Think about what we're offering, says Brown

Chancellor urges fuel protesters to mull over the details of his pre-budget statement

Chancellor Gordon Brown has asked fuel protesters to look closely at his pre-Budget package before they reject them.

Chancellor Gordon Brown has asked fuel protesters to look closely at his pre-Budget package before they reject them.

Protest leaders have said they are not impressed with Brown's proposals for a new environmentally-friendly low-sulphur fuel, abolition of road tax for farm vehicles, a freeze on fuel duty and reductions in the cost of tax discs for cars with engines under 1500cc, calling them "an insult to motorists".

They have resolved to continue with a planned demonstration due to start tomorrow featuring a go-slow truck convoy travelling from the North East to London over the course of four days.

But Mr Brown has asked them to think of people who were already struggling due to flooding and speed restrictions which are bringing the railways to a standstill.

He said: "This is not a time to bring Britain to a halt by protest. I think the whole of business and most of Britain wants to keep Britain moving.

"I hope the protesters will look at the detail of my proposal because there is a totally new licensing system for lorries which will get us down to about the lowest in Europe for licence fees.

"It has been based on the environment and that has been important because we want to have cleaner fuels."

Protestors do not appear to command the levels of public sympathy which were garnered by the previous blockades, are angrily defending their right to stage the march after North Yorkshire Police won an injunction banning them from entering the flood-hit York city centre but to remain on dual carriageways. It is believed Northumbria police are also seeking an injunction.