UK Chancellor blames OPEC for oil crisis, refuses to cut fuel tax
{{date|September 11, 2005}}
{{Oil prices surge}}
[[Image:Gordon Brown Photo.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gordon Brown]]

The [[w:United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] [[w:Chancellor|Chancellor]] [[w:Gordon Brown|Gordon Brown]] blamed oil producers from [[w:OPEC|OPEC]] for oil prices surge in the [[w:BBC|BBC]]'s Sunday AM programme. Mr Brown accused 'the [[w:cartel|cartel]]' of the lack of reaction on [[w:China|China]]'s rising oil demand. He said that he wanted OPEC to increase supplies by the end of the month.

However, the Chancellor insisted that the government would not ease the tax on fuel, saying that the price surge is "a global challenge that demands global measures". He admitted the situation is as serious as it was in 1970s oil crisis, but added that the slump can be avoided due to stability and low inflation rate of the British economy.

Mr Brown will probably have to face country-wide protests on high fuel prices. The protesters from the Fuel Lobby give the government three days to meet them to discuss lowering the fuel tax, then they threat refinery demonstrations and motorway go-slows.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4234788.stm
|title=Brown blames OPEC for fuel crisis
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=September 11, 2005}}
<!-- Hint: If you are citing BBC News, leave the author blank and put "BBC News" in the "pub" parameter. -->

*{{source|url=http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-13435234,00.html
|title=Fuel protests warning
|author=
|pub=SkyNews
|date=September 11, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=361999&in_page_id=1770&in_a_source=&ito=1490
|title=Brown blames OPEC for petrol prices
|author=
|pub=Daily Mail
|date=September 11, 2005}}

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[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Oil price surge, 2005]]
[[Category:OPEC]]
Gordon Brown

The United Kingdom Chancellor Gordon Brown blamed oil producers from OPEC for oil prices surge in the BBC's Sunday AM programme. Mr Brown accused 'the cartel' of the lack of reaction on China's rising oil demand. He said that he wanted OPEC to increase supplies by the end of the month.

However, the Chancellor insisted that the government would not ease the tax on fuel, saying that the price surge is "a global challenge that demands global measures". He admitted the situation is as serious as it was in 1970s oil crisis, but added that the slump can be avoided due to stability and low inflation rate of the British economy.

Mr Brown will probably have to face country-wide protests on high fuel prices. The protesters from the Fuel Lobby give the government three days to meet them to discuss lowering the fuel tax, then they threat refinery demonstrations and motorway go-slows.

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Economy and business United Kingdom Europe Oil price surge, 2005 OPEC