You have my sympathy . . .

SHADOW Chancellor Michael Portillo dropped in on Hampshire road hauliers to discuss Gordon Brown's pre-budget statement.

Speaking at road haulage firm Royers Ltd, in West End, Mr Portillo said he sympathised with truckers who were disappointed that the package did not offer them a level playing field with Europe.

He said: "Road haulage is very much in the news and I have come here today to get some feel for what the industry thinks about the changes Gordon Brown is going to make.

"It's very unfortunate that Gordon Brown does not seem capable ever of making a straightforward statement and it takes days and even weeks sometimes to see what's in the small print."

He pointed out that the "Brit disc" that foreign hauliers would have to buy to operate in the UK would also have to be paid by the British road haulage industry.

He said: "So there's a lot of questions still in the air and as far as the family motorist is concerned we are still wondering about this ultra-low sulphur petrol which none of us know where to get at the moment and which is more expensive to produce."

Mr Portillo pledged that if the Conservatives came to power after the next general election they would cut the price of all fuel by three pence a litre.

After meeting Mr Portillo yesterday, Royers Ltd chairman Graham Westcott said: "I am pleased to meet anyone who either has or may have an influence in helping us to make the industry more efficient and cost-effective, particularly more competitive with our European partners."