Lib Dem Shadow Environment Secretary In Pershore To Talk About "Green Taxes"

7.26.04am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 7th Sep 2006

Everybody is invited to the public meeting to learn more about the Lib Dem "Green Tax Shift".

Chris Huhne MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, will be joining Richard Burt, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire, at a Public Meeting in Pershore to outline the party's "green tax" proposals. The meeting will be held in the St Andrews Centre, Church Walk, Pershore at 7:30 pm on Thursday 14 September. Everybody is welcome to come.

Liberal Democrats propose to increase taxation on aircraft and gas-guzzling vehicles, but to use part of the proceeds to reduce income tax. We call this the "Green Tax Shift". Find out more at www.greentaxswitch.org.uk.

Ahead of the meeting, Chris Huhne said: "It is time to start talking about how to limit fossil fuel use through tax-driven changes of behaviour. We need green taxes offset by income tax cuts, not higher taxes overall.

"Nine of the hottest ten years on record have been since 1990. In Britain alone, we have suffered two floods in 2002 that were meant to occur only once every 30 years. We have had the wettest six months since records began, and the hottest summer temperatures in 2003. Storm surges, flood damage and droughts are rising. The Thames barrier has been raised 55 times in the last five years, compared with 12 times in the previous five."