A SUFFOLK MP has warned against a Government backtrack in the wake of the haulier fuel price protest - claiming it could be catastrophic.

A SUFFOLK MP has warned against a Government backtrack in the wake of the haulier fuel price protest - claiming it could be catastrophic.

Hundreds of lorry drivers descended on London yesterday to protest against fuel taxes as Suffolk companies claimed they were losing money on a weekly basis and operating in a “survival of the fittest” industry.

South Suffolk MP Tim Yeo said it would be a grave mistake if chancellor, Alistair Darling, bowed to demands for lower duty.

Mr Yeo, who is also chairman of the Commons Environmental Audit Committee, said: “The truth is we cannot take our foot off the accelerator at the moment in terms of encouraging people to switch to low carbon choices.

“The issue of climate change is far bigger, far more urgent than we understood even ten years ago. To try and say now we are going to let people have an easier ride in terms of green taxation on fuel would be catastrophic in terms of our response to climate change.”

Mr Yeo's comments came as angry lorry drivers - joined by members of the Road Haulage Association (HRA) - conducted a major protest in the capital and spoke of their fears for the industry as long as fuel costs continued hitting record highs.

The protest, which saw hauliers demand a 25p-in-the-pound tax rebate on diesel, coincided with a debate in Parliament on the controversial 2p increase in vehicle excise duty planned by Chancellor Alastair Darling for the autumn.