THE lorry drivers' protest at the Budget's rises in taxes on trucks and fuel - manifested by their demonstration which gridlocked much of central London yesterday - may have taken a dangerous turn for the worse.

For, in effect, it has led to the truckers and the government shouting at each other from across the road, not real problem-solving negotiation. True, transport minister Dr John Reid is meeting hauliers' leaders today and has offered them an "industry forum" to discuss their complaints over the Budget measures which, lorry operators say, are forcing firms to register abroad.

But it seems they are far from sure of sympathy or concessions - not when Dr Reid has begun by saying there will be no backing down on the Budget and that some firms are suffering, not because of what the government has done but because of their own inefficiency.

Yet, while it is understandable that the minister has to defend government action, he will nonetheless find it hard to defend the gulf between French and British taxes on HGVs and fuel which would make UK firms 15 per cent more efficient if they were the same. It is not surprising, given the Dr Reid's attitude, that drivers' leaders are now threatening to escalate their action by blockading ports and motorways.

This is a frightening prospect. For the disruption in and around London yesterday was caused by what was essentially a regional protest and it would be nothing like the paralysing blows to communications and the economy that would occur if the drivers were angered into strategic action of the sort with which, in the past, militant French truckers have held their country to ransom for days on end. The lorry drivers have considerable public sympathy for their plight, not least from millions of motorists also stung by the Budget's stealth taxes. Much of that would disappear if their protest made the public the victim of their battle with the government.

They should steer away from that. And , at the same time, the macho government should resist driving them in that direction - with either words or taxes.

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