[mad_matt]

Yet another budget that hits familys is expected next week, Darling seems to have no clue and this is what the experts reckon will be delivered:

THE cost of family cars is set to rise under plans for a new “showroom tax” to be unveiled in this week’s budget.

Alistair Darling is planning a series of green taxes designed to force consumers to become more environmentally friendly. The centrepiece of the chancellor’s first budget is expected to be a levy on new cars, which could put £2,000 on the price of the largest “gas guzzlers”.

However, it will hit also families buying saloons, estates and people carriers. “People don’t take much account of the cost of car tax and fuel when buying a car, it is the price sticker in the showroom that makes the difference,” said a senior Treasury official.

Darling is also expected to announce: Above-inflation duty increases on beers, wines and spirits; Increased taxation on air travel; A partial climbdown on the taxation of “nondoms”; And an extra winter fuel allowance for the overseventies paid for by the energy companies.
Related Links

* Chancellor ready to reveal his green streak

Multimedia

* Video: Budget preview

The chancellor was last night agonising over whether to press ahead with a 2p a litre rise in the cost of petrol – despite fuel prices recently hitting a record. Insiders claim he may yet be persuaded to delay the increase but is anxious to avoid accusations of hypocrisy by endorsing an ostensibly antienvironmental move.

The showroom tax is designed to boost the market for less polluting “hybrid” cars, such the Toyota Prius. It comes after measures such as offering cuts in annual road tax to green cars failed to change buying habits.

The new tax is expected to be based on the seven bands used to determine car tax. It will mean that Band A and B cars such as the Prius and Smart car will become relatively cheaper to buy. The cost of cars in the highest band G such as Range Rovers, Jaguars and Porsches, would attract the heaviest tax.

However, the price of many family cars will also rise. The petrol versions of the Vauxhall Vectra and Ford Mondeo lie in the above average band E and the Renault Espace is in G.

The chancellor, in his Wednesday budget speech, is expected to lay out a vision of all motorists driving environmentally friendly electric or hydrogen-powered cars by 2050.

He has been influenced by a report by Julia King to be published on Wednesday which will call for “urgent” measures to change consumer behaviour. “Technology achieves nothing if it is not adopted,” the report, commissioned by Gordon Brown, will conclude.

Duty on beer, wines and spirits will increase by more than the rate of inflation. Darling is also considering an alcohol “accelerator”, signalling that drink taxation will continue to rise in real terms.

The Treasury has in the past resisted tax rises believing that putting up the price of drink would simply encourage cross-border smuggling.

However, pressure from the health lobby, worries over binge drinking and the need for extra taxes to close the growing budget deficit have prompted a change of heart.

Darling has rejected Conservative plans for “smart” taxes which would target alcopops and super-strength lagers, arguing it would be an “unworkable gimmick”.

“If you are going to raise duty you have to do it across the board. By targeting specific types of drinks, you will just cause people to switch to other cheaper varieties,” said a Whitehall source.

The cost of foreign holidays is also expected to rise as Darling announces heavier taxes on the aviation industry. The current air passenger duty will be scrapped for a tax on entire journeys.

The new system is designed to discourage carriers from allowing half empty flights. However, an internal Treasury report says the new tax will also ensure “the industry makes a greater contribution towards its environmental costs”. Industry insiders believe the change could mean a family of four paying £100 more for a return trip to Spain.

Darling, reacting to criticism over plans to charge so-called “nondoms” - people domiciled abroad to avoid tax - a £30,000 annual levy, will also announce a series of concessions.

So if there was a snap election on Monday who would you vote for?

[krish]

I see you haven't voted yet

[Ian J]

Unlike real elections I see that this straw poll is public so everyone can see which way everyone else has "voted" and on that basis I will not "vote" here at all.

[njp]

You should have given a link to your source, rather than merely quoting it verbatim without any reference. I think you'll find that's a violation of News International's acceptable use policy.

[Miyazaki]

All political parties are corrupt. I don't intend to vote at the next general election.

[GrahamC]

Won't vote labour because of the ID card, Won't vote Conservative because of Maggie. Won't vote Lib Dems because I don't think they are good enough ...so won't vote at all because doing so will indecate acceptance of the pigs ear of polotitions we have in this country.

[Reign-Mack]

anybody got any reason to actually vote for a party not based on protest against another

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by mad_matt

Yet another budget that hits familys is expected next week, Darling seems to have no clue and this is what the experts reckon will be delivered:

THE cost of family cars is set to rise under plans for a new “showroom tax” to be unveiled in this week’s budget.

Alistair Darling is planning a series of green taxes designed to force consumers to become more environmentally friendly. The centrepiece of the chancellor’s first budget is expected to be a levy on new cars, which could put £2,000 on the price of the largest “gas guzzlers”.

However, it will hit also families buying saloons, estates and people carriers. “People don’t take much account of the cost of car tax and fuel when buying a car, it is the price sticker in the showroom that makes the difference,” said a senior Treasury official.

Darling is also expected to announce: Above-inflation duty increases on beers, wines and spirits; Increased taxation on air travel; A partial climbdown on the taxation of “nondoms”; And an extra winter fuel allowance for the overseventies paid for by the energy companies.
Related Links

* Chancellor ready to reveal his green streak

Multimedia

* Video: Budget preview

The chancellor was last night agonising over whether to press ahead with a 2p a litre rise in the cost of petrol – despite fuel prices recently hitting a record. Insiders claim he may yet be persuaded to delay the increase but is anxious to avoid accusations of hypocrisy by endorsing an ostensibly antienvironmental move.

The showroom tax is designed to boost the market for less polluting “hybrid” cars, such the Toyota Prius. It comes after measures such as offering cuts in annual road tax to green cars failed to change buying habits.

The new tax is expected to be based on the seven bands used to determine car tax. It will mean that Band A and B cars such as the Prius and Smart car will become relatively cheaper to buy. The cost of cars in the highest band G such as Range Rovers, Jaguars and Porsches, would attract the heaviest tax.

However, the price of many family cars will also rise. The petrol versions of the Vauxhall Vectra and Ford Mondeo lie in the above average band E and the Renault Espace is in G.

The chancellor, in his Wednesday budget speech, is expected to lay out a vision of all motorists driving environmentally friendly electric or hydrogen-powered cars by 2050.

He has been influenced by a report by Julia King to be published on Wednesday which will call for “urgent” measures to change consumer behaviour. “Technology achieves nothing if it is not adopted,” the report, commissioned by Gordon Brown, will conclude.

Duty on beer, wines and spirits will increase by more than the rate of inflation. Darling is also considering an alcohol “accelerator”, signalling that drink taxation will continue to rise in real terms.

The Treasury has in the past resisted tax rises believing that putting up the price of drink would simply encourage cross-border smuggling.

However, pressure from the health lobby, worries over binge drinking and the need for extra taxes to close the growing budget deficit have prompted a change of heart.

Darling has rejected Conservative plans for “smart” taxes which would target alcopops and super-strength lagers, arguing it would be an “unworkable gimmick”.

“If you are going to raise duty you have to do it across the board. By targeting specific types of drinks, you will just cause people to switch to other cheaper varieties,” said a Whitehall source.

The cost of foreign holidays is also expected to rise as Darling announces heavier taxes on the aviation industry. The current air passenger duty will be scrapped for a tax on entire journeys.

The new system is designed to discourage carriers from allowing half empty flights. However, an internal Treasury report says the new tax will also ensure “the industry makes a greater contribution towards its environmental costs”. Industry insiders believe the change could mean a family of four paying £100 more for a return trip to Spain.

Darling, reacting to criticism over plans to charge so-called “nondoms” - people domiciled abroad to avoid tax - a £30,000 annual levy, will also announce a series of concessions.

So if there was a snap election on Monday who would you vote for?

Unfortunately i think the above measure are probably right. We will all have to change the way we live- period!

[RizL4]

Never vote don't see the point

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by Ian J

this straw poll .

[Ewan154]

when is the next general election?

[overkill]

Who cares? They are all crap. 'Dithering' Brown, 'King of spin, devoid of substance' Cameron, and the 'we are the alternative no longer' Liberals. There is no-one to vote for anymore.

[Reepicheep]

Originally Posted by GrahamC

Won't vote labour because of the ID card, Won't vote Conservative because of Maggie. Won't vote Lib Dems because I don't think they are good enough ...so won't vote at all because doing so will indecate acceptance of the pigs ear of polotitions we have in this country.

Is Maggie standing for re-ellection then?

[TameRacingDriver]

I'll vote for the UKIP or the BNP.

I know theres no chance of either of those getting anywhere near, and nor would I neccesarily want someone like the BNP in anyway, but if one of those parties could get even a tiny bit of influence in parliament I think it would cause a real shock to the "big three", as a public display of no confidence.

Personally I dont understand not voting. If you dont like the big three, vote for one of the smaller parties, and make it known that you are not happy. If enough people did that, it would could make the current regime(s) realise that the public have no confidence in them.

[blobster]

Originally Posted by pbirkett

I'll vote for the UKIP or the BNP.

I know theres no chance of either of those getting anywhere near, and nor would I neccesarily want someone like the BNP in anyway, but if one of those parties could get even a tiny bit of influence in parliament I think it would cause a real shock to the "big three", as a public display of no confidence.

Personally I dont understand not voting. If you dont like the big three, vote for one of the smaller parties, and make it known that you are not happy. If enough people did that, it would could make the current regime(s) realise that the public have no confidence in them.

Sounds good to me.

[MikeTV]

Originally Posted by pbirkett

I'll vote for the UKIP or the BNP.

I can't believe the moderators actually allow people to promote neo-nazism in these forums. And don't protest to me about rights to free speech. This is racial hatred we are talking about here, and encouraging it is a crime in this country.

[neilios]

Originally Posted by MikeTV

I can't believe the moderators actually allow people to promote neo-nazism in these forums. And don't protest to me about rights to free speech. This is racial hatred we are talking about here, and encouraging it is a crime in this country.

Whats wrong with ukip.

I have never voted ,cannot understand the point whoever is in makes no difference ,just different faces and these recent fraud scandals make me laugh .They bang on about the unemployed and benefit fraud while using various scams to hide and gain money *** .

Our politicians like to point the finger at other countries while back slapping and robbing the tax payers to fund there sleazy lives ,*******.

[andykn]

Originally Posted by Games Guru

All political parties are corrupt. I don't intend to vote at the next general election.

You should spoil your ballot. Otherwise it can be seen a tacit acceptance of the status quo.

If you are sufficiently disenchanted with them to get off your backside just to specifically not vote, that is quite a powerful message.

[oxygenuk]

any party that has 'cut petrol costs' on their list lol

[kopchoir]

kop For Prime Minister

[unique]

MOD COMMENT

chillout with the critisisms of other peoples choices, particularly the racism and fascism comments

if someone wants to vote for a party you disagree with, that's their entitlement and it should be respected in the same way as you are entitled to your own opinions

the forums are regularly checked but we don't have a constant and immediate way of checking in place, so people can post things and it takes time for us to manually read and check every post, so if something that shouldn't is posted, it doesn't mean mod's have allowed it, however i don't think birket naming a political party and his reasons for it are in breach of the forum rules, and he doesn't appear to be promoting the party to me.

[kopchoir]

Originally Posted by unique

MOD COMMENT

chillout with the critisisms of other peoples choices, particularly the racism and fascism comments

if someone wants to vote for a party you disagree with, that's their entitlement and it should be respected in the same way as you are entitled to your own opinions

the forums are regularly checked but we don't have a constant and immediate way of checking in place, so people can post things and it takes time for us to manually read and check every post, so if something that shouldn't is posted, it doesn't mean mod's have allowed it, however i don't think birket naming a political party and his reasons for it are in breach of the forum rules, and he doesn't appear to be promoting the party to me.

Well said

Originally Posted by kopchoir

kop For Prime Minister

This was my attempt

[Dony]

Anyone who doesn't want to vote should move to N. Ireland........we don't get to vote for any future government.

[Ed Selley]

Originally Posted by Dony

Anyone who doesn't want to vote should move to N. Ireland........we don't get to vote for any future government.

You are the first person resident in Northern Ireland to voice something I've been thinking for years.

Surely if we're talking protest votes the Monster Raving Loony party or Bristish Communist Party have to be good candidates as they're mostly harmless (the communist manifesto even looks quite cheery in a totalitarian sort of way).

[wormvortex]

what's wrong with UKIP? How are they neo-nazis at all?

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by pbirkett

I
Personally I dont understand not voting. If you dont like the big three, vote for one of the smaller parties, and make it known that you are not happy. If enough people did that, it would could make the current regime(s) realise that the public have no confidence in them.

Yup I shall be voting for the Arthur Skargill's Socialist Labour party

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by MikeTV

I can't believe the moderators actually allow people to promote neo-nazism in these forums. And don't protest to me about rights to free speech. This is racial hatred we are talking about here, and encouraging it is a crime in this country.

if I may say so I dont think you should try to influence mods decissions, as they are quite capable of making their own on what to allow.The UKIP is not a racist party and Pbirkett wasnt trying to promote anything - he simply stated who he would vote for

[MikeTV]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

if I may say so I dont think you should try to influence mods decissions, as they are quite capable of making their own on what to allow.The UKIP is not a racist party and Pbirkett wasnt trying to promote anything - he simply stated who he would vote for

I am talking about the BNP reference - they are white supremacists, for pete's sake! He could have just left at at "other" party. But no, he had to state BNP. And then others posted and applauded his post. I don't care who he votes for - I just don't think it's an attitude we want promoted on the GC forum. I find it offensive, and I am sure many blacks and asians would too.

[TameRacingDriver]

FWIW, I probably wouldnt vote for them, they are just first two that came to mind.

Not that its any of your business mind.

deleted comment by MOD - please don't post anything else to incite arguments, thanks

We live in a democracy. Some parties will have manifestos that people dont agree with. But to react in the way you did is frankly rather silly. I could be offended at being called a nazi and a racist by you, but I am obviously a little thicker-skinned than you.

[danmc_82]

What would happen if no one voted at all?