Glenn Goodall

Having had a look through various party manifesto’s I have to say that the Green Party policies on taxation are a little odd, and feel a bit ‘Lib Dem-Light‘… I’m going to try and hold back from saying “uncosted”!Here are a few which caught my eye:

• Reintroduce the Tory/Labour fuel duty escalator, increasing fuel duty by 8% per year (That could work out to an extra 1p per litre on fuel each month.).

Sounds great on paper if you want a better environment, however, this would lead to a massive rise in costs for everyday basics, like food. This would effect the poorest members of our society the most, and probably increase the number of people on the poverty line. I also suspect inflation would go out of control if this was allowed to happen.

Lib Dems would raise fuel duty in line with economic growth, so as the poorest are not brought to the brink!

• Introduce VAT and fuel duty on aviation.

Fine, airlines would simply refuel abroad where there isn’t as high VAT, costing jobs and losing the Treasury money in lost aviation fuel duty.

Lib Dems have a similar pledge to replace air passenger duty with a per-plane tax, instead of focusing on the fuel. We’d also tax domestic flights to encourage rail use (and we’d be investing in Rail on a level not seen since Victorian times!).

• Increase the rates for the Climate Change Levy and for Landfill Tax

Nothing new here, just increasing on Labour… and who will pay for this? You and me in the form of extra high council tax.

Were as Lib Dems would set targets for ‘zero waste’, aiming to end the use of landfill. In Lib Dem run towns and Cities like Eastleigh this is almost a reality already!

This would mean less packaging, more recycling, and a huge increase in anaerobic digestion to generate energy from food and farm waste. Something we have been supporting locally for a long time.

• End the zero-rating of VAT on new dwellings

This would hurt first time buyers as they would have a much larger deposit, this would price many people out of the property market.

• Tax plastic bags and other unnecessary packaging

Ok, but a little bit ‘small fry’ and a bit nanny-state. Plus this could effect inflation.

Locally, we Lib Dems would rather see packaging companies use only materials which the  majority of Councils can recycle. Also, increase use of Poly Lactic acid would be useful!

• Gradually increase alcohol and tobacco taxes

Once again this isn’t very novel as Labour have been doing this for years! Plus it would probably impact on the poor more so.

Lib Dems would support a ban on below-cost selling, and are in favour of the principle of minimum pricing, subject to detailed work to establish how it could be used in tackling problems of irresponsible drinking.

Lib Dems would also review the overly complex, ill-thought-through system of taxation for alcohol to ensure it tackles binge drinking without unfairly penalising responsible drinkers, pubs and important local industries.

See, if you vote Lib Dem you get well thought through policies plus you’d get Nick Clegg as PM and Vince Cable in the Treasury!

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So I notice that the Green party have said on their blogs that this post is some how evidence of ‘nasty politics’ – and attacked me saying: “Well with selective quoting you can turn a classic into a dogs breakfast.”

I certainly wouldn’t call the Green Party manifesto a classic, but hey – that’s my opinion. I state at the beginning that these are the points that stood out to me! ffs!!! Scrutiny of policies is just a part of life, it isn’t being ‘nasty’ in any way.

It would be if I’d attacked individuals, or trolled Green blogs leaving horrible comments or attacked the Green Party at every possible opportunity… but I don’t. Sorry for daring to scrutinise some of their policies… I know it must make me SO evil! lol

Also, one local Green Party  member said “Clegg ‘banker clique’ son of a banker“… That would be a personal attack… and thus, a nasty campaign!

Facts are that the Green Party attack the Lib Dems because they see us as the competition and want our vote… its that simple. Their left-wing buddies,  Labour, do exactly the same.

That said, I’m not against their parties existence – that’s democracy! Even the ever-so sensitive Green Party, a lot of the guys and girls I’ve met are genuinely nice people. Also, I personally believe that the UK should fully accept that there are more that handful of parties.