Post by Steve Gardner on May 26, 2008 17:06:56 GMT
I just don't understand what the Labour Party is up to. I was never a big fan of Blair, but Brown is a disaster. I've lost count of the cock-ups that have happened under his stewardship.
We've had missing records, funding scandals, the referendum-free European Treaty, the abolition of the 10p rate of tax and now an increase in the rate of vehicle excise that will have the effect, once more, of targeting the poorest in our society.
Have they learned nothing from Crewe and Nantwich?
Source: BBC
We've had missing records, funding scandals, the referendum-free European Treaty, the abolition of the 10p rate of tax and now an increase in the rate of vehicle excise that will have the effect, once more, of targeting the poorest in our society.
Have they learned nothing from Crewe and Nantwich?
Source: BBC
The government is coming under mounting pressure from hauliers and its own MPs to change its mind on measures that threaten to raise the cost of driving.
The Labour MPs say poorer motorists will suffer most from plans to increase road taxes on more polluting cars.
Road hauliers are also angry that fuel duty is set to rise by 2p this autumn.
But environment minister Joan Ruddock said that while she sympathised with motorists, the government "could not lose sight of the environment agenda".
The MPs say they are concerned about the potential impact of a planned change in vehicle excise duty (road tax) which will see drivers paying more for more polluting cars registered since the end of 2001.
So far 35 Labour MPs have signed a motion calling on the Treasury to think again about the retrospective aspects of the policy.
They plan to warn the chancellor, when Parliament returns next week, that the government could lose votes over the issue.
Increase 'unfair'
Labour MP Ronnie Campbell told the BBC: "The increase is unfair to people who bought their cars a year ago, not knowing that the government was going to put that road tax on."
He said the government was in danger of making the same sort of mistake as when it abolished the 10p income tax rate, and was accused of penalising poorer families.
Mr Campbell also called on the government to think again over plans to raise the cost of fuel duty by 2p per litre from the autumn.
He said: "Fuel is already £5 a gallon in some places...the chancellor needs to cancel the 2p rise.
"It's a tough one for the environmentalists, but unfortunately people at this time can't afford it."
UK road haulier companies are also warning of dire consequences if the planned 2p rise goes ahead.
Special exception
Haulage company boss Peter Carroll told the BBC that fuel prices were increasing "almost daily" and that British companies could be driven out of business.
Mr Carroll is helping to organise a lorry drivers protest on Tuesday, when hundred of hauliers are expected to converge on central London.
The drivers plan to hand in a letter to Downing Street, calling on the government to make a special exception and grant a fuel duty rebate to operators of "essential vehicles".
Ms Ruddock said the government had already shown sympathy for motorists by delaying the 2p increase in fuel duty until the autumn.
She said the environment would benefit from the plan to increase road taxes on more polluting cars.
The changes, due to come into effect next year, will mean cars will be put in one of 13 bands from A to M, based on their carbon emissions.
Owners of the most polluting cars in band M will pay £440 in tax. And from April 2010, people buying the most polluting cars would pay a one-off "showroom tax" of up to £950.
Ms Ruddock added: "What we can't do is lose sight of the environment agenda because this is everybody's future, the future of the planet."
She denied the retrospective aspect of the policy was unfair.
"Over a 10 year period...I think the direction we have been going in has been clear to people at the time," she said.
