Tory Green Tax proposals lack substance

5.15.49pm GMT Thu 31st Aug 2006

The Conservatives have today announced that they would raise from "green" taxes. Liberal Democrat Environmental Spokesperson Chris Huhne said in response "It is flattering that the Tories are moving towards the Liberal Democrat position of supporting a rise in green taxes to change behaviour, but they still haven't proposed a single specific measure. Warm words are no substitute for hard plans. The key to changing behaviour is to raise green taxes, offset by cuts in income tax, whereas the Tories propose only to raise green taxes as a share of total taxes, which may be falling. That will not change behaviour at all."

Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has told the FT he was "completely open-minded" about the measures he would bring in, but it was clear more revenue should be generated. He would not specify exactly how he would increase the proportion of revenue taken from "green" taxes during an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.