Gordon ties himself to the mast on vehicle excise duty
James Forsyth 2:51pmSam Coates points out over at Red Box that Gordon Brown boxed himself in on vehicle excise duty at PMQs yesterday by telling those questioning the move that:
“Don't you know these reforms are going to save 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 and increase the number of clean cars”.
Sam thinks that Gordon let his irritation at John Hutton and Jack Straw’s freelancing on this issue, both have suggested that the rise might be revisited, get the better of him. Now, what’s interesting here is that Downing Street appears to be convinced that Straw is on manoeuvres, readying himself for the role of caretaker PM if Brown is knifed. It will be well worth keeping an eye on the Straw-Brown relationship in the coming month.
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Comments
Perry
June 5th, 2008 3:46pmI like the idea of the Beloved Leader tied up, I really do. And pelted. In the stocks would do nicely, - but to a mast would be acceptable.
I completely disregard anything he may say about the ‘nviramint, money, or anything else. Such an errant witness. And he of the manse as well. Can’t understood it. But then, neither do I care.
As to the Man of Straw, of Noo-Lie-Bore, well, the stench of desperation creeps o’er the land.
David C
June 5th, 2008 4:36pmWould Brown actually realise he'd 'been knifed'?
He appears to be quite impervious to reality and his party is proving itself positively Lilliputian.
The 'First Lord of the Treasury' sign is on his desk and he seems to be satisfied pottering about doing odds and ends while his credibility and authority evaporates.
All very strange.
TomTom
June 5th, 2008 5:12pmBrown cannot change VED - it is EU policy and Germany is having exactly the same problems with it at present - and the same political fallout
TrevorH
June 5th, 2008 5:18pmHow will this save 1.3 million tonnes if people pay the tax and carry on driving?
Rising fuel costs may encourage less motoring and the production of more economical cars, but this is nothing to do with VED tax.
John Ionides
June 5th, 2008 5:36pmI think the idea is that people will sell their own (high CO2) bangers and buy nice new (and rather more efficient) vehicles. Assuming that we all have the cash to do this hiding down the back of the sofa, of course ...
Max
June 5th, 2008 7:02pmAlways assuming that CO2 is indeed a dangerous pollutant(and many scientists now disagree), how much CO2 is emitted to manufacture one brand new low emission car? Is it possible that it might actually be less polluting to hang on to a 6 year old mondeo?
Cui bono?
Max
http://theerrorlog.blogspot.com
John Miller
June 5th, 2008 7:47pmI was desparately trying to see if I could download and keep the YouTube video of PMQs for when Brown does his u-turn next Spring. But then I remembered Harman and Ed Sturton on the today program, when she ather flummoxed him by denying that she had said something, even though there was a video on YouTube showing her saying it.
After she denied it several times nice old Ed just gave up.
So perhaps I won't bother
Max Kaye
June 5th, 2008 8:03pmNo wonder Brown has lost Mondeo Man....
John F
June 6th, 2008 5:02amOn the subject of vehicle tax, CO2 emmissions etc,, here is how they do things in Singapore.
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will reduce road tax for most vehicles from 1 July. In a statement, the LTA said road tax for cars, motorcycles, taxis and commercial vehicles will fall by 15 per cent.
Electric and hybrid cars will also see a 15 per cent decline in road tax rates.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/352123/1/.html
They are lowering the tax for all vehicles which use diesel and those with a low Co2.
One of the benefits of living in a country that has a conservative government is that they try to help people by lowering taxes.
Socialist governments like Bottler Browns look for ways to screw money out of people for no discernable benefit except for themselves.
cuffleyburgers
June 6th, 2008 8:16amThe idea that selling an old car and buying a new one is somehow green is of course absurd.
But the whole eco con thing is just an excuse for raising taxes and general ill judged meddling, and typical of the kind of crap we will have to get used to as the balance pf power shifts inevitably from Westminster to Brussels.