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Brown causes chaos by insisting on car tax rise
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor28.05.08
Gordon Brown risked sparking further fury over fuel taxes today as Downing Street defended plans to hit motorists with new charges.
The Tories claimed the government was in "chaos" over the issue as Mr Brown side-stepped his own ministers' suggestion of a U-turn.
Yesterday, Cabinet ministers Jack Straw and John Hutton signalled a possible retreat on the Budget's planned 2p rise in fuel duty and £200 hike in vehicle excise duty.
But today No10 insisted any future decisions were a matter for Chancellor Alistair Darling and made a staunch defence of the need to tax polluting cars - including those that were bought before the Budget.
At a meeting in Scotland with oil industry chiefs, the PM and Mr Darling focused instead on new moves to protect the public from soaring global prices.
Fresh measures to get more oil out of the North Sea through new licences for exploration were unveiled. In a further move, ministers will later this week announce new plans to help the elderly with fuel bills.
Mr Brown's Downing Stre e t spokesman left open the possibility of a "hypothetical" change to the fuel and road taxes, but made clear the Treasury needed the money that would be raised from the increases in duty.
He added: "The most effective action the Government can take to address the concerns of motorists is to work with our international partners to bring greater stability to the oil market."
Labour MPs believe it is unfair to impose retrospective road tax increases on people who bought family cars years ago, but the spokesman insisted told cars were no different from new cars when it came to environmental impact.
When asked whether Mr Hutton and Mr Straw were authorised to speak on taxes, the spokesman said: "The key thing is what the Chancellor and the Treasury say."
After fears among Labour MPs that the subject could be as damaging as the 10p tax row, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne seized on the different signals being sent out on the issue.
He said: "The least you could expect of a government in an economic downturn is that they speak with one voice on tax policy. But such is the chaos now engulfing Gordon Brown.
"The sooner he stops dithering, overrules his Chancellor and abandons these stealthy plans to tax family cars at the very moment people are feeling the pinch, the better."
No10 also dismissed claims that there would be a windfall to the Treasury in higher taxes from the oil price spike. But tax experts estimate Mr Darling will this year rake in an extra £6billion from VAT and other tax rises linked to oil.
Reader views (6)
Looks like Britain has a new Mugabe, a non elected PM, with the same results, tax the people out of a live-able wage
- Stew, South Africa
I really don't understand why we can't just have a simple tax on fuel based so that those who use their cars more, pay more. Our fuel tax is excessive, and on top of that we pay car tax. Just simplify it, one tax on fuel - so if you own a inefficient car and drive it only a small amount you pay the same as someone with a more efficient car who drives a lot more.
The whole retrospective car tax on cars purchased years ago is shocking, are we going to get a rebate on the lost value if we want to move to an alternative car? Its still not clear to me that these hybrids do actually have less impact on the environment for the lifetime of the car (from build->use->disposal).
- Carl, London
What can you expect from a man who doesn't drive and has sworn to put the interests of Scotland first. I'm surprised that Jilted John's song " Gordon is a Moron" hasn't made a come back.
- Jeremiah, London
Why should MPs worry? They pay for very little themselves and are so busy they have plenty of time to rake it in from various wheezes including putting their family on the payroll.
- Tc, Suffolk
This guy will not listen to the public.
He is an un-elected prime minister who needs to be sacked and return to Scotland.
- Malcolm May, Windsor, UK
Well done Gormlessdon another vote winner. Roll on 2010
- Den, London
