Labour MPs Reject 'Green Tax Switch' - Tories sit on hands

5.22.59pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 22nd Oct 2006

Labour MPs have voted down a Liberal Democrat call for a greener tax system, with the Conservatives abstaining, despite David Cameron's claims that the environment is a priority for him.

The Lib Dem opposition day motion called on the Government "to increase green taxes on new high-emission cars and on aviation while using revenue generated to cut direct taxes, particularly on low earners, so that there is no overall rise in the burden of taxation."

Speaking after the debate Shadow Secretary for the Environment Chris Huhne said "the debate showed how little the other parties have to offer on the environment. For all David Cameron's rhetoric, the Conservatives have not put forward a single specific policy on the environment whilst Labour has been going backwards and has presided over a rise in carbon emissions.

This makes the Liberal Democrats' Green Tax Switch campaign all the more important. It is vital that we continue to press the case for practical proposals to change our behaviour, benefiting those who change the most and making our society more sustainable."