VED TAX GRAB ON OLDER VEHICLES WILL HIT SOLIHULL FAMILIES HARD - BURT

1.41.03pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Jun 2008

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt today criticised Chancellor Alistair Darling for raising Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) on cars registered from 1st March 2001, branding the move as a cynical tax grab that would hit hard pressed families in Solihull.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"Retrospective taxes on older vehicles are unfair, will do nothing to protect the environment and will end up giving green taxes a bad name.

"Owners of many family vehicles, including the popular Ford Mondeo, will see the cost of their tax disc rocket to more than double over the next two years. This will do nothing to change people's driving habits, but it will make a big hole in the pockets of hard pressed families in Solihull.

"Charging higher VED duties on the most polluting new vehicles can change purchasing habits and help protect the environment. However, taxing people more for older vehicles is just a cynical ploy to help fill a hole in the treasury."