Totally unimpressed by Brown's efforts today on going green. As if an extra fiver on air fares is going to make any difference at all. He's going to get completely out-flanked on this by the Tories.
The no stamp duty is good, but I fear it's one of those too clever fiscal incentives that's going to make very little difference. The political opportunity was there to hugely raise taxes on 4x4s, petrol, flights etc, and then dare Cameron not to back him.
I think green taxes are only going to work if they largely replace existing taxes rather than (as is the case with these) being in addition. Otherwise, most people are just going to see them as a way of boosting treasury revenues instead of something needed to change our behaviour.
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Yeah, politicians are all indulging in green posturing at the moment. Still, it does reflect a growing public concern about the issue.
quite like the idea of no stamp duty for zero carbon houses, though.
The no stamp duty is good, but I fear it's one of those too clever fiscal incentives that's going to make very little difference. The political opportunity was there to hugely raise taxes on 4x4s, petrol, flights etc, and then dare Cameron not to back him.
Here's what he should have done - the Ecologist's alternative pre-budget speech.
I think green taxes are only going to work if they largely replace existing taxes rather than (as is the case with these) being in addition. Otherwise, most people are just going to see them as a way of boosting treasury revenues instead of something needed to change our behaviour.
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