Conservatives propose ‘green revolution’
Higher taxes on domestic flights and improved public transport are needed if Britain is to cut carbon emissions by 80 per cent before 2050, a Conservative policy group has said.
At a press conference today, the Quality of Life group unveiled its Blueprint for a Green Economy, announcing a range of proposals due to be considered by David Cameron at a later date.
Led by former environmental secretary John Gummer, the group urged the party to “shift the burden of taxation from families and businesses, to polluters”.
Mr Gummer stressed that taxes overall would not rise, but said highly polluting activity must be heavily levied to discourage people from making bad choices.
This comes the day after a Green Alliance report found the Conservatives to have the least committed environmental policy of all the main political parties.
Mr Gummer refuted these criticisms, saying a duty to the environment was strictly in-keeping with Conservative party tradition.
He drew parallels with the present challenges and those of the industrial revolution, saying Britain had led the way then because it “understood new technology could change the world.”
Placing pressure on manufactures to evolve technologies, the report said, would play an essential role in converting Britain to a low-carbon economy.
As well as financial levies, the group supported suspending airport expansion at both Stansted and Gatwick, and suggested a moratorium on the future of Heathrow.
The Green Alliance report yesterday suggested there were contradictions between these recommendations and those of the Competitiveness Committee led by John Redwood, which last month said airport expansion was fundamental to Britain’s continued economic vitality.
Mr Gummer vehemently dismissed there was any tension, saying creating a greener society was absolutely essential to reviving Britain’s international position.
The research also placed heavy importance on improving the public transport system, insisting it was essential to make it more appealing to take cleaner forms of travel.
