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GORDON’S LOST THE PLOT
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) slams Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rises for bikes.
Gordon Brown has totally forgotten Labour’s "Bike to Basics" policy that they trumpeted before they came to power says MAG.
The bikers lobby group say that the decision to increase motorcycle VED rates while some cars are being zero rated means that the chancellor has missed a great opportunity to send a simple message for promoting economy of space and fuel.
MAG’s Director of Public Affairs Trevor Baird said, "The green credentials of motorcycles cannot be measured simply by looking at fuel consumption, you have to consider the shape and size of motorcycles which means they can slip through traffic when cars, however fuel efficient, will be stuck."
MAG’s President Ian Mutch was equally adamant, "Gordon’s lost the plot on this one. Why can’t he see that if people move from cars to bikes then they will liberate road space that will let those bigger vehicles that have to use the roads move around more efficiently, it’s not rocket science."
Although the increases in VED rates are small the Motorcycle Action Group is stepping up its campaign to get all motorcycle tax reduced, with a target figure of zero.
Ends
Notes for Editors
1. VED changes will take effect from 23rd March 2006.
Increase rate of duty, previous rate of duty were applicable in brackets:
2. DVLA website Here
3. Zero rates for cars with the very lowest carbon emissions which will pay no duty at all. Current £75 for cars with low emissions lowered to £40. Overall duty rates will be zero, £40, and then £100, 125, 150, 190 up to a new band of £210 for the small number of new cars that are the most polluting. This will help pay for 5 million more fuel efficient cars to have their duty cut.
Issued by
Trevor Baird
Director Of Public Affairs |
