If there is one lesson to be learned from the current chaotic state of Britain, it is that the electorate of this country is not to be taken for granted.

The Government was clearly caught on the hop by the strength of feeling among hauliers and farmers about the high cost of fuel and its own role in hiking it up through taxation. It also under-estimated their capacity for responding to the French action by embarking on a highly-effective protest campaign of their own.

If the police had been ordered on Sunday to clear a path for tankers, the fuel crisis would not have grown to such serious proportions - although the farmers, lorry drivers and the rest would still have got their message across and would have retained the popular support they have been accorded by a large part of the population.

In the event, though, it seems that to some extent the tide of backing has turned. Some motorists, and even some petrol-price campaigners, have started to express doubts about the rightness of continuing the protest in view of the huge amount of inconvenience it has caused.

But the clear message remains: that the public do not like the idea of money raised through fuel tax being used for the running of the rest of the country. They want fuel-tax revenue - and Road Fund Licence revenue, for that matter - to be spent in transport-related areas, be it road-building or improved bus and rail services. Money for health and education should be raised through other tax means.