Higher taxes on flights and cars in Tory plan

Big rises in car taxes and petrol duty are being considered by the Tories in a review of transport policy that threatens the party’s reputation as the “motorist’s friend”. The Conservatives are also considering an increased levy on short-haul flights to curb stag weekend travel to Europe, as they move to establish the “polluter pays” principle over the environmental cost of transport.

Other proposals from Mr Norris’s group are likely to include improved transport links to the north of England to persuade more people to settle and work there; encouragement for food producers to sell locally; and a strategy to persuade people to walk or cycle journeys of under a mile.

The plans, to be debated at the party’s conference in October, have to go through the Conservatives’ “quality of life” review, which is evaluating all policy on the environment, and will then go to the party leader, David Cameron, for approval. Initial findings illustrate the extent to which the Tories are thinking about pushing their green credentials, even at risk of alienating some core supporters.

Mr Cameron said this week he might support increasing the cost of air travel as part of a general carbon levy.

The Guardian