Osborne: Another U-turn on the way

Tuesday, 27, May 2008 12:00

Conservative shadow chancellor George Osborne has poured scourn on the government's plans to disproportionately hit low-income households by increasing vehicle excise duty.

"At a time when families are feeling the rising cost of living, the government would be foolish to proceed with a big increase in road tax on family cars," he said.

"Everyone knows that Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown will be forced to U-turn on this issue, as they have on so many other tax changes, so why put off today what they will have to do tomorrow?

"The Conservative party has consistently opposed these measures. We believe that any increases in road tax should be focused on the most polluting vehicles and offset by reductions in family taxes so that they are genuine green taxes, not stealth taxes."