UK News 09-11-2000 Brown Caves In To Fuel Demands who: Gordon Brown what: Announces £4.7billion pension and fuel handout where: House of Commons, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has caved in to public pressure, the newspapers agree. With a package of "handouts" worth around £4.7billion, his mini budget yesterday "fired the starting pistol for the general election," says Paul Routledge in The Mirror. "And if Labour can`t win on his giveaways, it never will." The Express takes full credit for its role in winning an extra £5 a week for pensioners. "The Chancellor backed the Daily Express campaign for a fair deal for the elderly," writes Anthony Bevins, "by awarding big rises to the country`s 11 million pensioners." Mr Brown has tried to "buy off" fuel protestors, says The Guardian, with a "£1.75bn series of measures that would cut fuel prices, reduce excise duty and provide subsidies for `greener` lorries". Fuel protestors have voted not to carry out the planned blockades of oil refineries, but hardline protestors still intend to go through with their slow-moving convoy from Jarrow to London tomorrow. In The Express, Cheshire farmer and protest leader Clive Swann says Mr Brown has not listened. A promised cut in vehicle excise duty on tractors will save him just £30, he says. "We have heard Prescott going on about using public transport but how can we do so out here?" he says. "I cannot get 15 tonnes of fertiliser or 12 bullocks for market on a bus." Nevertheless, most commentators are shocked at how much Mr Brown has given away. If you "crave fame, glamour and power," the chancellor has shown you the way to get it, says Anatole Kaletsky in The Times. "Make some tea. Set up a barricade. Throw a traffic cone". Then state your demands and "within a 60-day deadline, you will receive a nice, fat cheque". [... more]

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