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The introduction of road charges and aviation taxes is a precursor to declaring them "carbon taxes" and crediting them to "clean" activities. Behind the thinking is the problem raised by the 2006 Energy Review in that nuclear power is only economic if it garners revenue from carbon credits. EdF, the most likely nuclear builder and Suez-GdF (if the merger goes ahead) need no subsidies because they are around 85% French state owned, as is Areva the French nuke builder. However both have asked for guaranteed carbon credits for the operational life of their nuclear projects, for between 60 to 100 years. Of course, it is only the actual nuclear fission that is carbon free and the uranium mining, fuel manufacture, station building, de-commissioning and waste handling all produce emissions, so the credits are not deserved!. In any case as fossil fuels run out the users ability to pay the carbon levy will progressively reduce and the whole carbon trading ethic is a nonsense. There will be congestion whatever we do, but it will be caused by abandoned vehicles which failed to make it to a filling station with some fuel.

- John Busby, Bury St Edmunds

What seems to be passed by, either by misdirection or plain short sightedness, is that there is already a highly accurate system in place which penalises anyone more if they a: drive more miles and/or b: have a less economical (sorry 'green') car - it's called FUEL DUTY. The only area in which fuel duty does not 'penalise'/discriminate is the time of day one uses the roads at. Given that the VAST majority start work at a fixed time and finish at a fixed time (believe me Gordy, if I could change it I would!) so it's simply a big fat con to get more money out of us to throw into the enormous, leaky money pit that GB requires to continue to look good. (Richard - I sadly believe you are likely correct - in that there'll be a token reduction in road tax alone and whimperings from the treasury over how we must all pull together to invest and share the burden blah blah - it will most certainly be rigged to the net positive side once introduced)

Anyway, what I really wanted to say (as it's intensely sinister IMO) is that in doing so, this govm't will finally succeed in getting GPS trackers into every single car on the roads. Thus they will know exactly where you went/go, when you did it and how fast you went. So, expect further behavioural modification in the form of a fine and punishment to follow... and so on.

- Ash, Chertsey, UK

Train companies have no new capacity coming into service and are introducing premium tariffs to discourage any further growth in passengers. Simultaneously the government want to price cars off the road, presumably on to trains! Just how are we supposed to get to work? Perhaps we should all give up working and paying taxes.

It's a shame that the motorist is not a minority group. If we were, the government would rush to pass legislation to protect our interests. As it is the largest petition ever is made to Downing Street, and the government makes it clear that they will ignore it. I have spent years thinking the French were mad for the way they protested against things they don't like. I now realise that when victims keep quiet, they only get further abused. Enough is enough. And I do not care if I am now on the government subversive list!

- Stephen, London

"Gordon Brown believes ring fencing taxes for a particular cause would create a dangerous precedent".

I seem to recall that "Road Tax", the thing that we pay each year just to access the roads, was originally intended for improvements to the road transport system. Nowadays we risk being fined for not telling government of our intention not to tax our cars.

As David Davies says more than enough is already collected.

We need more government accountability not this.

- Jose, Wales

JK, the problem with the online petition is that Blair seems to be TOTALLY ignoring it which is even more fustrating for those of us that have decided to sign it and risk being on the 'subversive list'!

- Isabel, Woking, England

This was always a case of when, not if, unfortunately. With public transport now around 3 times more expensive to use than in mainland Europe, the advent of road pricing, which will I doubt be accompanied by a conmensurate decrease in the annual road fund licence, it seems to me that this government are determined to make us the most taxed country in Europe. There is a petition to add your name to on the 10 Downing Street website, but I am cautious of adding my name to it, as it will probably only have me registered as a potentially undesirable subversive as a result...
The next general election cannot come around quick enough.

- Jk, London

Sufficient money is already collected but the government chooses to put it to other uses that further its own agenda.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke

I think, as long as the road tolls replace road and fuel taxes then charging for use is the way forward both for fairer taxation and environmentally.

- Richard, London, UK

Quite unbelieveable. Orwellian Police State. If this bunch of incompetents aren't chucked out soon this country will cease to be a fit place to live in.

- James, London

I think the British worms are going to turn very soon now, putting up with this pathetic money grabbing country of ours! Time to make enquiries about emigrating.

- Sue, Orpington, Kent

Another EU plan agreed which now impinges on national electorates. Maybe women in labour will get exemptions as the drive to some faraway maternity unit?

This place is getting more and more comical with the chimps tea party that passes for government.

- Tomtom, Leeds England

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