Oct 27 2007
Petrol Tax - the new highway robbery
Gordon Brown has form taking ever larger sums of tax money from people using cars, vans and lorries. His latest increase is ill judged, coming at a time of a large increase in the price of crude oil which is increasing the tax take still further.
Once before a large hike in petrol tax caused a taxpayers revolt, a difficult period for the government, and a climb down by the Chancellor. It seems he has not learned from this bitter experience.
Many people have already faced big increases in stealth taxes of all kinds, and a substantial increase in their mortgage payments. They now face petrol at
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John Redwood has been the Member of Parliament for Wokingham since 1987. First attending Kent College, Canterbury, he graduated from Magdalen College...
The rationale behind Labour’s anti-motorist agenda goes deeper than merely wishing to raise revenue. At heart is the statist agenda that drives Labour ideology. An inherent hatred for the individual and desire to collectivize every aspect of life, including transportation. Labour dream of a statist transport system where all citizens are crammed sardine like into public transport. For this reason the individuality of the motorist is despised.
It is a nice little earner for the Chancer (sic) Mr Darling. I wonder how much is actually done by him, as so many measures were announced by Mr Brown to come in on a future date. I suspect Mr Darling’s hands are somewhat tied.
We have all become reliant on our cars for getting about. Our town centres have been destroyed and are full of shoe shops, travel agents, fast food outlets and “Pound” type shops. Gone are our butchers, bakers and green grocers where we could buy fresh un-packaged seasonal food. Our public transport has been destroyed leaving many reliant on their own cars.
Mr Darling knows very well that we motorists, are in effect a “Captive Cash Cow” that can be fleeced at every opportunity and haven’t we been so!!
I expect that the rise in oil prices and it’s effect on inflation figures will be used by the BOE to justify keeping interest rates up for the foreseeable future. Of course rising oil prices are another nice little earner for Chancer Darling.
I too support the notion of itemising the amount of tax/duty on fuel. I would also like to see it on many other things such as alcohol and cancer sticks for example. Perhaps a campaign by the Conservatives to show just how much of the price paid by the consumer is in fact made up by hidden tax and duty charges could be beneficial to both the party and electorate. Another example would be insurance premium tax.
Perhaps we could highlight these new taxes on a daily basis during an election campaign with a feature called “Tax of the day” where the party really hammers home just how much we have been fleeced by the tax hungry Labour government.
Mr. Redwood, I am one of your supporters, but even I have to point out that it was the conservatives who introduced the ‘fuel duty escalator’
Reply: Yes, when fuel was a lot cheaper - and not something I ever argued for. I am making proposals for now, with fuel at
Tony Makara is spot on in his analysis
Where do motorbikes fit into a Tory transport policy.
A fair question given the the amount of cars on Britains roads with only the driver.
I myself ride a Suzuki Hayabusa. 35mpg no less….
Motorbikes are the new golf. Only middle aged middle class people can afford to buy and insure these machines nowadays. Many are owned by company directors and many of the riders are aged 50+.
This is a relevant political question and should not be deleted. I am 40 years old.
John does in reality personally reply to website comments and amazingly enough answer your e-mails. Top Man! Respect. My comments do need moderation though.
The problem is that whilst the general motoring public are a cash cow which can seemingly be milked without complaint or ill effect, the same is not true of the transport industry.
When you tax fuel, you impose a higher cost on every company which wishes to move things about. When you do this to a multinational company, you are playing a very dangerous game since a multinational can opt to shift production into a different, less tax-hungry country; at the very least this sort of irresponsible taxation will make multinationals cancel expansion plans in this country.
The problem then gets worse when you consider how much more liberal the employment law is here, as opposed to in other countries. It is in short cheaper and easier to sack people here than it is in much of Europe, and thanks to the unreasonably generous state benefits it is getting harder to get good workers here.
Should the Government continue in this line, industry will leave these shores and land all of us in a mess of the Government’s making; one which can only be solved by cutting benefits, cutting taxes, cutting Government spending (we’re looking at you now, Scotland) and voting Labour out of office.
Once the Tories are back in office, I’m looking forward to a few little adjustments to the voting system; proportional representation, say, or the return of the Pauper’s Oath.
Multi-nationals are here because of roads education security etc Not just low taxation on fuel.
So what you are saying Dan is that not only should the workforce be east to sack. They should get no benefits and be put in the stocks. Often when they are out of work due to govenment policy? Not real.
John,
It’s a real shame that the Conservatives aren’t making an issue out of this as it would be a real vote winner. I don’t think that most people who have large cars (ie over 2 litre) would mind paying an increased road tax, it’s the fact that we are getting ripped off at the pump by the government. I’m glad that you’ve decided to speak out about it, I think that you should launch your own political party, as David Cameron doesn’t appear to be concerned about the price at the pumps.
I’ve worked out that I’m better off financially selling my car and claiming benefits (about
quite agree , but wasnot highway robbery a hangable offence? so who should we hang the pm the chanselor or the fat cats at the head of the petrolium companys it just seems that every body is jumping on the bandwagon at the motorists expence.
It must be a bit difficult to complain about the price of petrol and remain ‘credible’ to put it politely. Whilst driving a Range Rover, BMW X5 V8, Toyota Amazon or the like.
These vehicles often go as low as 9 miles per gallon in an urban environment. Or 55 pence per mile in petrol alone. 16 quid for being stuck in a small jam on the M5! Not to mention another 25 for going into London, and then parking/cost of such a large car.
Retarded.
Bore me again about the price of petrol, and the cost of chauffeurs because of the minimum wage these days Jeremy.