Regular readers may be aware of my less-than-glowing views on the Adam Smith Institute. However, creditably, they support Labour’s plans for a national road pricing system.
So they should. Road tax is a regressive system that does nothing to ease congestion; petrol tax is better than road tax on both measures but still not brilliantly targeted (and is far too low to have a significant effect).
The only dodgy recommendation from the ASI is that they suggest the money should be used for road improvements. Bollocks to that: [cut taxes/improve government services] (depending on your ideological persuasion), and let the selfish twats who needlessly drive around in cities suffer.
You’ll be getting the bus to Sainsbury’s then?
Oi, I said ‘needlessly’. The ASI road tax plans are time-based and congestion-based, so shopping 4pm on a Sunday wouldn’t be a problem…
The idea? Great. But how will it be implemented? A satellite transponder in the car tied to your credit card? Efficient, simple, cheap, foul for civil liberties.
It’s a shame all government spending can’t be paid for by taxing London black-cab drivers. There must be a case for punitive taxation of them.
> It’s a shame all government spending can’t be paid for by taxing London black-cab drivers.
Or forcing them to become prostitutes in swamps, the bastards.
> let the selfish twats who needlessly drive around in cities suffer.
By "suffer", do you mean "use public transport"?
The technology won’t work, it will be abused by criminals and "illegals" and it will put motoring back 80 – 100 years when it was the preserve of the wealthy.
Come on, everyone, do you really believe that this Government will make this one "revenue neutral" – please, do me a favour………………………………