Chris Huhne

TORIES STILL LACK REAL GREEN POLICIES – HUHNE

Commenting on George Osborne’s announcement of a consultation into replacing the Climate Change Levy, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

“With the launch of yet another consultation, the Conservatives are again delaying the time when they will have to present the electorate with a concrete policy. They are clearly still way behind the pace on the environmental taxation agenda.

“The last consultation George Osborne set up to look at taxes completely failed to come up with any proposals to use green taxes to change our behaviour. Another consultation is unlikely to change the record.

“If they are genuine about making a switch to taxing pollution not people, then their tax commission’s failure to back such a move does not inspire confidence.

“For a genuine green switch to be made, green taxes on gas-guzzling cars and planes are needed to change the behaviour of individuals as well as business.

“The Liberal Democrats are the only party with clear plans for fairer and greener but not higher taxes to change behaviour and safeguard the planet for our children. There must be a guarantee to hand back every penny piece of revenue through cuts in income tax on work, risk and effort. We should tax pollution not people.”