Miliband calls on Chancellor to devise new menu of eco-taxes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A multi-million pound menu of eco-taxes, including incentives to buy environmentally friendly washing machines and lightbulbs, has been proposed by David Miliband, the Environment Secretary, in a confidential memo to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The letter to Gordon Brown includes measures to limit car use and ownership with a "substantial increase" in road tax to reduce carbon emissions. The minister also calls for a "pay-per-mile pollution tax" on motorists and one on household waste.
The leaked letter says: "Differential charging for waste at household level can have a significant role to play." It adds that household appliances that use too much energy should cost more than those designed to help the environment.
"The prices on retailers' shelves do not reflect true environmental costs, and consumers do not always buy cost-effective, energy- efficient goods," the letter says.
The Environment Secretary also calls for a landfill tax paid by local councils and businesses that bury refuse to go up from £21 to £75 a ton.
The document also proposes taxing motorists with a special mechanism to get extra fuel tax whenever oil prices fall.
Air travel may also be taxed more heavily with air passenger duty raised by £5.
"There is also a case for making flights subject to VAT either on domestic flights or better still for all EU flights," the letter says.
The Environment Secretary's proposed eco-tax package will throw down the gauntlet to the Tories who have yet to spell out in detail financial measures to help the environment.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments