Gordon Browns Tax Plans,

[Rack]

she should be home schooling them and helping with the overcrowded classroom problems?

oh Rack got there first. i prefer my answer tho

me too actually

[5lab]

or she could just get a job and stop scrounging benefits off the country

if you don't live within walking distance of your work/school, there's absolutely nowt to stop you moving. commuting by car has only been widespread in the last 30-odd years - it'd not hurt to go back to how it was before (and it'd make the country a hell of a lot healthier)

[kalniel]

And so it seems that Mr Brown has plans to increase tax on fuel to give more to education.

Whats everyones reaction to this? Good or bad thing?

Good thing, but sadly doesn't go far enough.

It's not even an increase, as he's just going up by inflation, so all he's done is stop it decreasing as a one off. It should increase regularly to stay at least the same price, preferably more, as that will encourage people to talk alternatives, drive more economically etc etc. without any need for extra road taxing schemes that have less benefit for the environment.

[Digerati]

Ever heard of walking, or the bus?
Is it becoming america - must have a car to do anything? Maybe I'm just lucky to live near a bus stop... I just hate the whole 'school run' thing, the parent paranoia - I used to ride 5-10km to school, and here you should be closer than that thanks to 'Catchment areas'.

In all fairness though, you live in London where you have a choice. The rest of the country's public transport is abysmal and alot of rural Parents don't have the choice of whether to drive them or stick their kids on a bus.

[5lab]

In all fairness though, you live in London where you have a choice. The rest of the country's public transport is abysmal and alot of rural Parents don't have the choice of whether to drive them or stick their kids on a bus.

thats a granted, but under the new road taxing stuff rural roads are mostly free..

[Sinizter]

Fact of life - taxes go up, you dont get **** improved and politicians will continue making lame promises they never keep.

Whoever is in power, its all pretty much the same ...

[capt_cornflake]

I've got no problems with increase in fuel duty as long as the revenue generated goes into subsidising alternatives (buses, trains, cycling whatever)
Apart from in a couple of large cities, public transport in this country is appallingly bad and expensive, and as long as there's no affordable and convenient alternative, then congestion is only going to get worse.

And anyway as Kalniel's already said it's not even really an increase!

[GeorgeTuk]

You prove to me there is a direct link between the fuel duty and the spend on education and probably wouldn't mind.

However we all know it will either be spent on:

1) MPs wages
2) A new initiative
3) A contributions to other countries and EU
4) The war fund
5) A new IT project or supporting an old one.

[redsky009]

I just wish the money would actually get used for something useful - like getting rid or Metronet and getting in a company that is able to find its a**e with a tube map to do tube maintenance, or such other worthy causes rather than failed NHS computer systems, keeping troops in iraq etc, nuclear deterrants and the like... bah

[5lab]

trouble is, everyone has a different opinion on what the money should be spent on. even in here, some people want money sent to iraq to help troops, others (myself included) think thats a complete waste. the reason you vote in a goverment is so that they can balence what they believe to be the needs of the people, and distribute the money accordingly. it'll probably never completely satisfy anyone, but its a pretty good balence in general.

[Bazzlad]

What the hell?? Which america have you been to? I take it you mean as long as they are white christian americans? Or oil billionaire americans?
Hurricane katrina ring any bells?

You believe our Country would have coped better with hurricane katrina?

Tony Blair:
"Yes, I believe the correct response is to tax hurricanes. I know this won't be a popular move, BUT, to counter this, we're going to ban complaining. From ...... now."

I'd say, as I go to America 4 times a year on average, the view I see of America is more balanced and unbiased than yours. Not saying it doesn't have its problems (understatement) but I firmly believe those in Glass Houses shouldn't throw stones. I'm English to the core, but this Labour Government is making me consider moving...and guess where I'll go?

[SilentDeath]

Anyone have a detailed summary of the plans and when they are due etc...

Will any cars be excluded?

Cars get taxed enough, the only reson it continues is becuase everyone needs cars
Worse however, is that tax does not reflect at all on cost of the vehical so those that cant afford it get hit a lot harder than those that can.

[Digerati]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6213328.stm

[MadduckUK]

I'm English to the core, but this Labour Government is making me consider moving...and guess where I'll go?

Canada?

[coco]

I'm English to the core, but this Labour Government is making me consider moving...and guess where I'll go?

going 4 times a year isn't the same as living and working there, one thing you can be sure of anywhere in this world is death and taxes, death is the same all over just the taxes are different that's all

"Live Free or Die"

[kalniel]

You prove to me there is a direct link between the fuel duty and the spend on education and probably wouldn't mind.

However we all know it will either be spent on:

1) MPs wages
2) A new initiative
3) A contributions to other countries and EU
4) The war fund
5) A new IT project or supporting an old one.

What does it matter how the spending is linked?

Fact is that duty is stopped from decreasing, and more money is being spent on education. It doesn't really matter if money from the duty goes somewhere else, and at the same time money from that somewhere else goes to education.