Chancellor of the Exchequer taxes the poor at christmas

[White Cap]

Ryanair News--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

News Release
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

27.12.06
GORDON “SCROOGE” BROWN TAXES THE POOR AT CHRISTMAS

Ryanair Europe’s largest low fares airline today (27th December) branded Gordon Brown as Scrooge for his decision this Christmas to double air passenger duty on low fare tickets from 1st February next. In so doing “Scrooge” Brown is guilty of taxing the poor and in many cases, doubling the cost of low fare air travel.

From 1st February 2007 Gordon “Scrooge” Brown has decided to double the rate of APD from £5 to £10 per ticket which means that the Government taxes will be higher than many of the air fares charged by Ryanair to ordinary people travelling to and from the UK. The Chancellor claims that this will be good for the environment. This claim is rubbish. These extra taxes on ordinary people, which will generate over £1bn. per year, will go straight into Scrooge’s deep pockets, and will have no effect on the environment whatsoever.

The Stern Report recently confirmed that aviation accounts for just 1.6% of greenhouse gas emissions. If everyone stopped flying tomorrow, it would have next to no effect on reducing worldwide greenhouse gases. Aviation is neither the cause of , nor the solution to global warming, and the decision by Chancellor “Scrooge” this Christmas to double the taxes on low cost flights wont affect the environment, while ordinary people pay over £1bn. more in taxes for low fare flights next year.

If Gordon “Scrooge” Brown really wanted to do something about the tiny 1.6% of greenhouse gas emissions that aviation generates, then he would encourage passengers to fly on economic modern, fuel efficient aircraft like those of Ryanair and increase the taxation on business class which generates far more emissions per passenger, or on older, noisier, fuel guzzling aircraft like those operated by British Airways among others. “Scrooge” Brown should be taxing the polluters, not the ordinary people who can only fly because of the low fare flights that Ryanair among others provides.

Calling today on Gordon “Scrooge” Brown to reverse these unfair taxes on low fare flights, Ryanair’s Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary, said:

“Gordon Brown’s Christmas present to the travelling public is to double the taxes on low fare flights from £5 to £10 per ticket. This decision will hit the poor much harder than the fat cats in business class, and these taxes, while generating over £1bn. for “Scrooge” Brown, wont make any difference to the environment whatsoever.

“Ordinary people should not suffer high taxes. British tourism will be damaged by these taxes which deter visitors coming to London and the UK at Christmas and the New Year.

“Ryanair is today inviting all passengers booking tickets over the Christmas period to write to Gordon “Scrooge” Brown “the ghost of Christmas present” asking him to reverse this unfair and regressive tax on travel, a taxation which will do nothing at all for the environment when aviation only accounts for 1.6% of global greenhouse gases.

Gordon Brown’s New Year resolution should be tax the rich, not the poor. Tax the fat cats in business class, not the ordinary families on average wages who can only afford fly thanks to Ryanair’s low fare flights.

If “Scrooge” Brown wont listen to Ryanair, then perhaps he will listen to the pleas of ordinary passengers many of whom –next year – will have to pay more in taxes to Gordon Brown than they pay to Ryanair for their tickets next year”.

Write to “Scrooge” Brown to tell him what you think of his stupid and ineffective tax at
[email protected]