Brown's budget: Complacency in a moment of crisis
21 March 2007
Green Party Principal Speaker Dr. Derek Wall today responded to Brown's budget, deeming it a failure to tackle climate change:
"It is not prudent to gamble with the climate - Brown's failure to act now on tackling climate change means we will pay later - as the Stern review has shown.
"After 6 months of rhetoric on climate change, there is a shocking absence of substance in this budget. Brown is being complacent in a moment of crisis.
"Brown needs a new golden rule - carbon cutting.
Dr. Wall went on to criticise the specific measures and targets outlined in the budget with regard to the environment:
"An additional 50 per cent for green grants for homes equates to just £6 million - peanuts.
"A 30% increase for top band vehicles to £300 this year and £400 next year flies in the face of the government's own research about the price difference requried to change behaviour.
"We need to see a rise to at least £1800 tax for the worst gas guzzlers to ensure people but greener cars.
"Exempting zero carbon homes from stamp duty sounds good but means little - it will not incentivise installation of micro generation and insulation measures.
"If Brown's figure of 16 million tonnes reduction in carbon emissions in the next year is right, it's still only a third of what is necessary.
"If he had raised fuel duty by 19p that would have cut carbon more than the rest of this budget put together - some 19 million tonnes over the next year.
"Brown was right to reject VAT on domestic flights as having limited impact. But he has copped out - Greens would have slapped an additional £100 on Air Passenger Duty on all flights to reduce CO2 emissions by 5 million tonnes.
"Cutting corporation tax is another step towards reducing the tax burden on big business - a step in the wrong direction."
ENDS
Dr. Wall will be addressing the Green Party Spring Conference on Friday at Swansea. For further info please see our website
Green Party Press Office020 7561 0282www.greenparty.org.uk
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