Islanders stage petrol protest as litre of unleaded soars past £1.60

ISLANDERS will today stage a protest against high fuel prices in the Western Isles.

It comes as the boss of wholesaler Scottish Fuel, the main supplier to the islands, meets local MP Angus MacNeil in Stornoway over the issue.

Mr MacNeil asked Scottish Fuel to come to the islands where unleaded petrol has soared past £1.60 a litre in some parts. A rally is planned to coincide with the meeting. Campaigner Erica Macdonald, who has set up a “Protest for Fair Fuel” page on a social-networking site, said it is important for as many supporters as possible to turn up “so we can let them know we are not happy with the prices they charge”.

Mr MacNeil said: “This meeting is another piece of the jigsaw in trying to get to the bottom of why fuel in our islands is so much more expensive than mainland Scotland.”