21st March 2007 updated 22nd March 2007

BROWN IS GAMBLING WITH THE CLIMATE

Cllr Philip Booth, from Stroud District Green party, today responded to Brown's budget, deeming it a failure to tackle climate change. He said: "Brown's failure to act now on tackling climate change means we will pay later - as the Stern review has shown. After 6 months of rhetoric on climate change, there is a shocking absence of substance in this budget. Brown is being complacent in a moment of crisis. Brown needs a new golden rule - carbon cutting."
 

Philip Booth, a Stroud District councillor went on to criticise the specific measures and targets outlined in the budget with regard to the environment: "An additional 50 per cent for green grants for homes equates to just £6 million - peanuts. A 30% increase for top band vehicles to £300 this year and £400 next year flies in the face of the govenement's own research about the price difference requried to change behaviour. We need to see a rise to at least £1800 tax for the worst gas guzzlers to ensure people but greener cars."

Philip Booth continued: "Exempting zero carbon homes from stamp duty sounds good but means little - it will not incentivise installation of micro generation and insulation measures. If he had raised fuel duty by 19p that would have cut carbon more than the rest of this budget put together - some 19 million tonnes over the next  year."

Philip Booth said: "Brown was right to reject VAT on domestic flights as having limited impact. But he has copped out - Greens would  have slapped an additional £100 on Air Passenger Duty on all flights to reduce CO2 emissions by 5 million tonnes. Cutting corporation tax is another step towards reducing the tax burden on big business - a step in the wrong direction."

See Martin Whitesides' letter here and more re Green party budget here