A Fair Tax on Flying
 

Have a look at this video produced by BALPA : which explains the damage being caused by the current (and future) levels of APD (Air Passenger Duty) being levied!

The campaign website : A Fair Tax On Flying allows you to enter a UK postcode and the system then automatically sends your MP an email.


Currently over 90,000 emails have been sent and the target is 100,000 for a debate to be triggered in Parliament - so let’s use our collective voices to hit that target!

And if you feel that you cannot send an email to a UK MP because you no longer live there then the website allows you to send an email to the Chancellor instead – you don’t even have to compose it – it has already been done for you!

I visited the site having been incited to do so by Steve Ridgway and sent an email to my (Conservative) MP and got a very prompt response from the House of Commons which told me in so many words to go away.

It looked like a pretty standard letter maybe with a few options inserted (depending what I was complaining about) which talked about the biggest structural defecit in history being inherited from the last Labour government and something had to be done about it and this was one way. It also said the departure tax was being extended to cover "business jets".

Done and linked to my FB page

Good Luck with your cause.
 

The government that can and promises to “give” you everything can “take” everything as well.

It seems like those in positions of political power view commerce and the masses as servants to their whims, the fruits of our labour and industry as their rightful resources to be allocated as they seem fit. Why does it not surprise me in the least that the tax levied in the video does not go to support aviation infrastructure or the industry.

I am developing a healthy anti-incumbent view as I draw near the voting booth. Politicians and nappies (diapers) need to be changed often and for the same reason.

I got a good response, See Below


Thank you for contacting me about Air Passenger Duty (APD).

I feel strongly about the damaging effects of high APD. Anything other than low rates of taxation damages wealth creation. I believe in low taxation in general and I believe it is crazy to pay for our public services through taxes on fuel and travel.

High APD particularly affects my constituency because many residents are of Vincentian extraction whose lives are blighted by the high rate making it less affordable to maintain family ties with St Vincent.

The only way taxation can be fair, in my view, is for all taxes to be low. But for that to happen, people need to vote for lower government expenditure. Without that, taxes will need to remain high to reduce the deficit and begin paying off the debt.

However, there is a strong case that our air transport costs must be competitive and reflect market changes, so I shall continue to press for the earliest possible reduction in APD as well as for less government, lower taxes and more freedom in general.

On election I made the decision to join the list of MPs who have decided not to sign EDMs. You can read more about my views on EDMs here.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Baker MP

Wait, so this tax doesn't even go directly towards improvements in ATC, runways, or security? Disgusting.

How does APD affect wealth creation???

If it is paid by a business it is a cost they deduct so eventually the tax payer is the one who pays - admitedly it increases a company's costs but I doubt it is a cost they notice

APD only really affects holiday makers and private citizens - I guess the Govt would point out that the real cost of flying has come down so far they should be able to afford it.

No-one likes paying taxes but as atmosphere says if you want a certain level of Govt expenditure then someone has to pay :(:(:(:(

APD is cheap to collect and hard to avoid and there are almost no exceptions - this makes it a very attractive tax from an HMRC view point

I received a rapid reply from my MP - the newly enobled Sir Tony Baldry. I always thought he was a good guy but as far as this is concerned his minions (who I assume are doing his work for him during the holiday, or am I just on old cynic?) came back with the usual Conservative lines. Basically we have to find money to cover the Labour cockup and this is as good a way as any.

Where is the petition link to increase the APD. I am all for trebling the tax, keep the riff raff out of the planes, keep the Brits from buying houses close to Loco destinations. All in all that would be great for the UK economy.

What do you reckon, 300 quid for EU trips and 750 for long haul? That should do it.

So little?
How about twenty grand for a passport - that should keep the poor at home.

We should be careful what we wish for - if they find a way to tax aviation fuel it would be a lot more punitive to airlines than APD. OK some governments might never agree to it but it would only take Europe and USA to implement it and that probably covers about half the airline flying in the world.

If it's right to inflict the highest flying tax in the world on flights ex UK, why is there not an equivalent tax on coach, rail and ship transport ? Since the original excuse for implementing this tax was to tackle green issues, though none of the taxes are actually used in that direction or any other aviation related service, I find it convenient that no such tax is applied to these other transport modes especially since they produce many more tons of noxious gases.

I have given a good telling-to to the Chancellor.

My comment:
How can a tax which increases the cost of promoting and selling British exports conceivably help the recovery of the UK economy?

Go cheaper
 

It is like in most Countries: The collector has to use his money wise and for the purpose he claimed reason if you have a company or a similar enterprise.

As soon as you are the Taxcollector you can use the money imposed from Air Tax or Petrol Tax to seal any other overdue expenses as you like. People call that missuse, as a government you call that what ?

Another fair share on the downturn of Transit Passengers at LHR is the close to disgusting way most of our Customers get "handeld" from the BAA Security. Also something to think about. I had several occassions when I talked with C-Class Travelers who under no circumstances want to transit in London anymore. Something to think about, but the people concerned will not do it, I am sure. They use Taxpayers money as it belongs to them.

fortystripes said ... Wait, so this tax doesn't even go directly towards improvements in ATC, runways, or security? Disgusting.

You'll be thinking the road fund license goes to repair the roads next !

and it helps the sand pit airlines. Nicely under the high rate tax.:D

Just to clarify (Mr Pedantic, me!) it is for Parliament to consider a debate - it is not automatic.

The power of Democracy
 

Sunnyjohn Quote "it is for Parliament to consider a debate - it is not automatic."

Quite correct!

A petition of over 100000 signatures was presented for Parliament to consider a referendum on EU membership for the U.K.

It was rejected!

Ahh, the power of democracy!

Just received an "I`m towing the party line" reply from my MP ,very discouraging. On a par with the Government`s attitude to Carbon Credits and "Windmills". "Don`t bother me with facts, it`s a great way to collect more taxes."

Good post.
 

Thanks to beerdrinker for posting this.

Positioning to a number of what used to be busy UK airports last week we commented on the noticeable drop in aircraft movements compared to previous years(ok, some of that is due to the global recession).
If the politicians did what a lot of sensible people of this country want :ugh: the economy would start to grow and there would be more money to pay the deficit.
Fact : Lower taxes = more Government income from tax.

I will be adding to the email to my MP, to counteract the deficit plea...Why is the UK borrowing money to give it away to countries that don't need it and taxing British nationals more money in order to pay the interest on those loans? :{