Lib Dem Green Tax Switch Gathers Local Support
October 30, 2006 4:14 PM
Simon Wright hands over £1000!
Hundreds of people visited the Liberal Democrat "Green Tax Switch" stall in Norwich on Saturday to discuss and back the campaign to switch taxation away from people and onto pollution. A leaked letter from Minister David Milliband to Gordon Brown reported today reveals that Labour are looking at introducing green taxes.
Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Norwich South, commented:
"Climate change is the most significant threat we face. The Liberal Democrat proposals are designed not only to penalize the most environmentally damaging practices but also to reduce the income tax burden on each of us."
"All of the people I met this weekend were very concerned about the future of this planet, and these Liberal Democrat proposals really struck a chord."
"However, Labour must not introduce new stealth taxes without offering a genuine 'tax switch'. I feel there is a lot of support from local people for the principle of switching away from taxing income and towards taxing pollution, but without such a switch there will be much less popular support for new green taxes."
"It is vital that if we are to address the challenge of climate change that politicians establish a consensus with the communities they represent. My fear is that if Labour choose to use green taxes as new stealth taxes without offering anything back, then they will fail to get the support of the public. This approach would be all stick and no carrot!
"Liberal Democrats would offer a fair change in our tax system without raising the overall tax burden."
The Liberal Democrat proposals would
· Provide everyone with a green income tax cut of 2p in the pound, giving the average family an extra £1000 a year. (We also plan to abolish the unfair council tax)
· Increase green taxes as a share of national income.
· Keep fuel duty in line with inflation to ensure there is always an incentive to save fuel.
· Abolish Airport Taxes, with tax each passenger, and instead tax each plane that takes off on its emissions. This would reward full flights and penalize half empty ones.
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