Back in september, the fuel tax protests proved to be unexpectedly successful and genuinely controversial. The response of the co- ordinators, who had not yet emerged as leaders, was to retreat, very much in the style of the General strike of 1926. [any readers who took part in that one, would love to hear from you !] Astonished and unsettled by the effect of direct action against an unprepared regime, they called it off at the moment of potential victory, and even fell back to the notion of conventional protest, which we leftists know is less effective !
In the meantime, the establishment has shifted: Jack Straw, the leader of the successful campaign to save General Pinochet from the international courts, has assembled a virtual falange which represents a class alliance against the small business and agricultural section. It is the avowed intent of the government to treat these people in the same fashion as the miners in 1984. Those of you who were there will know what that means, so if the truckers make it to London, give 'em a bit of support. they're not all greedy bigots or wilful ozone layer destroyers.