Latest News Stories

Chancellor's green tax is 'a scam' on motorists

28/04/08

Chancellor Alistair Darling has been accused of trying to scam motorists with a hike in car tax that he says is intended to help the environment.

The Association of British Drivers (ABD) has said that the rise in tax on cars that emit the highest levels of CO2, which was announced in the recent Budget, will have almost no impact on the environment.

According to Treasury figures, reported in the Telegraph, the tax will double revenue to £4 billion but will reduce emissions by only one per cent.

Justine Greening, a shadow treasury minister, highlighted the figures and told the Telegraph that the massive tax hike would have "virtually no impact on the environment".

She went on to accuse the government of bringing in an "eco-stealth tax of the worst kind" and said it was fully aware that the move would not change motorists' behaviour.

ABD environment spokesman Ben Adams, said: "The green tax is nothing more than
greed tax. If the government thinks it can get away with charging motorists over five times the carbon tax rate how long before domestic fuel bills become the next target?"

He added that politicians are "economical with the truth" and accuses them of ignoring scientists who have questioned global warming "dogma", claiming that signs of climate cooling have been observed since 2002.

Alistair Darling outlined the overhaul of vehicle excise duty in March when he delivered the Budget.

Under the scheme, cars producing less than 100g of CO2 per kilometre will not have to pay tax while cars such as people carriers that emit more than 225g per kilometre will pay more.

Searching for cheap car insurance online?go to Dial Direct