Brown's environmental efforts not convincing

1.20.25pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 7th Dec 2006

Vince Cable MP has criticised Brown's pre-budget statement

Cardiff South and Penarth campaigner Dominic Hannigan has called Gordon Brown's pre-budget statement 'unconvincing and disappointing'. The Lib Dems want to see a real switch in taxation from income tax to green taxes.

Dominic Hannigan said, "Gordon Brown has wasted an opportunity to make a real difference to carbon emissions. The government needs to be taking serious action now, but once again, these green measures are unconvincing and disappointing.

"Gordon Brown has simply jumped on the environmental bandwagon, but after 10 years as chancellor, during which time green taxes have fallen, this is simply too little too late. I am calling for the government to back the Lib Dem campaign for a real switch to green taxes. The money raised should be used to take the poorest people out of income tax completely."

The pre-budget statement has not delivered on aviation tax either. Airlines will still be charged per passenger than per flight, so there is no incentive to fill planes or make them more efficient.

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Read Vince Cable's responses on the Lib Dem website.