Andy Burnham’s new Net Zero Secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, has pushed for green taxes on plane tickets to drive down air travel and stop people flying. The Telegraph has the story.
Miatta Fahnbulleh advocated frequent-flyer levies that would add hundreds of pounds to the annual costs of regular travellers.
Now the Energy Secretary, she called for the taxes while chief executive of the New Economics Foundation think tank between 2017 and 2023.
During her time there, the think tank proposed in 2021 adding an escalating levy to tickets which would increase for every subsequent flight taken within a year, replacing the current Air Passenger Duty system.
Her appointment on Monday is likely to raise concerns that some of her previous policy proposals may be taken forward.
The think tank’s work has been incorporated into Labour policymaking in the past, including work on green industrial strategy and energy.
Richard Holden MP, the Shadow Transport Secretary, said families were already paying some of the highest flight taxes in the world “just to get away for a well-earned break”. “But Andy Burnham’s pick as Labour’s Energy Secretary wants to pile another tax on top,” he said.
He added British families were already being “taxed through the roof” and claimed the new taxes on air travel represented a punishment for “anyone who dares to fly for a holiday”.
Under the frequent-flyer tax proposal, the first flight taken by any individual in a given year would be exempt. The proposal was designed in part to keep costs neutral for lower-earners, who typically travel less, and to also protect family holidays. However, costs would then ratchet up in increments.
Under one model, for example, the tax on the first flight would be £0, the second flight £25, and each additional increment would increase by £10 thereafter (£35, £45, £55) for each subsequent flight. By the 10th flight the total green tax bill would come to £585.
The costs would be even higher for those travelling for business, representing a significant cost to companies.
It would be felt most by higher earners, who fly more, with models suggesting the highest 20% of earners would cut flying by around 30%, while the lowest 20% would be unaffected.
Government sources were keen to stress the proposal is not official policy, but frequent-flyer levies are a current recommendation of the Climate Change Committee – the Government’s official climate adviser.
Worth reading in full.
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Why is it in the Uk in the last thirty yrs of living here, prosperity is NEVER mentioned. The question, how can we, where can we squeeze more money from the suckers who pay tax. And it goes on with the new regime.
But hey …..£1 off your bus fare – if you use a bus! Lucky old you.
As far as I have been able to research Light Aircraft don’t pay any fuel duty or airspace charges, unlike terrestrial vehicle drivers who are taxed on fuel and for using roads. I would be happy if she addressed this anomaly. Why should I pay Carbon and other tax and they don’t.
So Ed Miliband won’t have to hold his Foreign Secretary meetings on video conferencing because the tax will not affect him. But how does someone born in Liberia as daughter of Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh, a former Foreign Minister of Liberia, and her mother is from Sierra Leone get a British Passport given that Liberia was never part of the Empire and Sierra Leone gained independence in the 1960s ? Independence should mean Independence
Indeed, a VERY good question!
How about a one way flight back to nigeria for this lady?
MODERATOR HERE
She was born and raised in Liberia
Liberia.
But yeah.
Perhaps they could put Badenough on the same plane 🙂
What a very good idea. I suggest that she starts with our new Foreign Secretary, our net zero fanatic, who is forever lecturing people about reducing their carbon footprints.
I don’t accept the authority of a Liberian African to tell me how many flights I can take a year.
These Africans don’t even understand the concept of clean running water so why are they even allowed near our government?
Oh dear god!
The government is not even trying to put competent people up.
“Sir Keir Starmer has flown about 75,000 miles since becoming PM” “Later, he told Labour MPs that all his air miles are helping boost living standards in Britain.
Defending himself against charges that he spends too much time on overseas trips, the Prime Minister claimed that his numerous talks with foreign leaders helped deal with the cost-of-living crisis.
He told a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) earlier this week that it was vital he was “in the room” for international talks on trade and defence, which impacted the economy”
Dear Miatta Fahnbulleh, we’ve started counting and soon your hypocrisy will shine through.
Yes, and isn’t it strange how Starmer suddenly went all “patriotic” about the Falklands, declaring that they belonged to Britain, but said nowt about the Chagos or Gibraltar?
I guess people who work in aviation are not real workers so their jobs can be sacrificed on the altar of Far Left stupidity.
More vague ideas, but no details as yet. If they do push this through, I wouldn’t mind betting that a return trip would be treated as two flights, moving travellers up through the tax bands at double speed.
Socialists hate prosperity and signs of it, especially when it’s accessible to the masses. It spoils their game.
” Labour policymaking in the past, including work on green industrial strategy and energy.”
Hahahaha! Industrial strategy hehe. Yes China has a great one its called international espionage and government plants to send all our manufacturing there.
Another Student Union Commie who has never had an actual job.
I fully support imposing these taxes personally on members of the public sector with them not being able to claim back on expenses.
I am sure she’s otherwise a lovely person.
I’m not.
Another Black gap toothed Nigerian Muslim. Must be the 2nd cousin of Badenteeth the ‘Tory’ leader. Apparently this genius is the ‘brains’ behind Burn-the-hamlet-down.
MODERATOR HERE
She was morn and raised in Liberia
How crude to blame ethnicity or skin colour! I’m sure she’s a very bright product of the British education system, which “trains” teachers in science and geography through systematic brainwashing on green issues, who in turn brainwash school students without either party being capable of using their critical facilities. When those students are then inveigled by the machinery of green politics, including the free access to taxpayer money, there’s little hope that they will ever be capable of challenging their political positions.
What a great way to subsidise Paris, Amsterdam Dublin and Frankfurt. And Madrid.
Too right. You can’t get to any other country efficiently from here, without flying. Exception: if you live very near London, and can afford Eurostar.
In contrast: years ago, I got together with some friends in Amsterdam. Including one from Bavaria. It was a bit last-minute, so she flew. That was the actual first time she’d been on a plane in her life, though she’s travelled all over the place.
Mind you, from what I hear Deutsche Bahn are doing their best (worst) to make trains less reliable…
Munich too as that is growing at the expense of Frankfurt.