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Original poster

Mayor Boris quashes the £25 congestion charge

41 replies

AtheneNoctua · 08/07/2008 08:30

and quashes the 100% discount for low emission vehicles because it would actually encourage the congestion problem.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7494495.stm

OP posts:
edam · 08/07/2008 08:36

Good for him. Now perhaps he'll abolish the Western extension.

Although he does seem to be in a bit of difficulty on other grounds atm...

aDad · 08/07/2008 08:48

Boooooo

Original poster
AtheneNoctua · 08/07/2008 08:52

Yes, but I can't get too excited about things his employees did before he knew them. Much more interested in Boris' policies. And I am no fan of the congestion charge because I think it is
1- revenue generation in the name of being green. But is in fact nothing to do with being green.
2- a tax on working people. You know, people like single mums who need a car to get to work because they have to drop three kids at two different schools on the way and this is really not feasible on public transportation.

So, yes, good for Boris.

OP posts:
JodieG1 · 08/07/2008 08:56

I'm glad about that.

edam · 08/07/2008 09:13

Well, I do think there are issues with someone who doesn't check out the people he appoints. Would have been so easy to find out that the guy was prevented from practising as a vicar and had never been a JP.

But I think on the so-called congestion charge, now being sold as a green policy, he is quite right.

MamaChris · 08/07/2008 09:19

Tis nothing to do with helping single mums. It's all to allow the rich to driver ever bigger SUVs that are a danger to pedestrians (especially children) and the environment. I say boooooo x 2

Original poster
AtheneNoctua · 08/07/2008 09:20

Yes, I agree there. He should check up on the people he hires. A bit silly of him to miss this.

But yippee about the congestion charge. It will be interesting to see if he kills the expansion plan.

OP posts:
edam · 08/07/2008 09:21

SUVs are undoubtedly a bad thing and dangerous to pedestrians. But I don't think a congestion charge that applies to a whole range of vehicles, not just SUVs, is the right way to tackle them.

With any luck, the price of petrol will have the same effect on SUVs in this country as it has in the US.

Original poster
AtheneNoctua · 08/07/2008 09:23

I hate SUVs as much as anyone. But £25 per day was outrageous -- especially when you consider the amount of tax those people are paying on their petrol.

If they want to tax them at the point o purchase, I could understand that. But raising taxes on vehicles which people have already purchased is not fair.

Now I don't want to sound sympathetic to SUVs because as I said I hate them. But I hate tax collection under the false pretense of being green when it is merely revenue generation more.

OP posts:
aDad · 08/07/2008 09:32

But it would have been taxing those who can afford it, and make them think about their car use more.

Nobody in London really needs to drive an SUV, they do it because they can afford it and want to. Certainly in my neck of the woods anyway.

Hopefully edam's right about the price of petrol reducing the numbers of these 'cars' eventually...

CountessDracula · 08/07/2008 09:36

What a shame

It might have put paid to a few of those stupid cars

Kewcumber · 08/07/2008 09:39

But the £25 was going to go exactly the way way as the normal congestion charge - people who can afford it (many SUV drivers) will continue to drive in - they won;t reconsider for a nano-second. Those who can;t afford it will have to stop - do think think there are many poor SUV drivers regularly driving into the congestion zone? I don;t know but I suspect not.

I know this becasue my very rich BIL (who have sveral cars and the SUV is by no menas the least eco-friendly of them) still drives in wihtout a second thought and will continue to do so whatever the price of the charge.

policywonk · 08/07/2008 09:41

Will be interesting to see what effect it has on traffic levels and the use of massive stupid cars.

CountessDracula · 08/07/2008 09:49

Well clearly you can't legislate for rich wankers

Kewcumber · 08/07/2008 09:53

no you can;t CD but I susepct that the £25 was just about taxing the rich wankers not trying to change their behaviour. Its a low risk tax because on the whole those who can't afford either the SUV and/or the congestion charge applaud taxing the rich wankers and those who can afford it don't give a toss (being wankers of course )

edam · 08/07/2008 10:05

Blimey CD, you don't seem to like anyone today! The poor are chip-guzzlers who brought it on themselves, the rich are wankers... are you filling in a tax return or something?

Original poster
AtheneNoctua · 08/07/2008 10:33

So, tax them at the point of purchase on the basis of luxury goods or something. They already pay more tax to drive around by virtue of using more petrol.

Make SUV's illegal on basis that they block my view and therefore make the road unsafe. Or install a "rich wanker" tax if you like.

But don't go around in the name of being green when you aren't going to put the money towards any kind of environmental cause. That is just revenue generation.

OP posts:
Original poster
AtheneNoctua · 08/07/2008 10:35

Oh, and please God, can we give reckless bikers a "wanker" tax as well?

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Bundle · 08/07/2008 10:36
Sad
CountessDracula · 08/07/2008 10:38

I have no problem with chip guzzlers
Just as long as they don't whinge that it is anyone else's fault that they are fat! I agree with personal responsibility in this matter!

I do have a problem with people who drive fecking great wanker cars in london

zippitippitoes · 08/07/2008 10:40

i was at the 10 k run on saturday and boris was on the pa at the finish

i didnt realise he always talks like he has no clue it hought that was just a tv front

but apparently its not

Original poster
AtheneNoctua · 08/07/2008 10:45

"chip guzzlers"?

I do agree with your point on personal responsibility. But I think you give SUVs for more attention than they are due on their contribution to the environment.

I think £25 per day is an outrageous sum of money for something someone has already purchased.

OP posts:
Bundle · 08/07/2008 10:46

athenenocturna
they haven't purchased the right to pollute the environment to a piss-taking degree

Original poster
AtheneNoctua · 08/07/2008 10:47

Likewise, I bet the people who bought low emissions vehicles and paid a bit more for them on the basis that they would not be paying the congestion charge are a wee bit upset about the change (understandably).

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Original poster
AtheneNoctua · 08/07/2008 10:48

So tax them when they buy it. Don't tax them to use something they have already bought.

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