March 17, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Britain hold a negative opinion of green taxes, according to a poll by YouGov. 59 per cent of respondents see the measures as a way to make revenue, while only 10 per cent think they aim at encouraging environmentally-friendly behaviour. A quarter of respondents think they are designed to do both.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Britain hold a negative opinion of green taxes, according to a poll by YouGov. 59 per cent of respondents see the measures as a way to make revenue, while only 10 per cent think they aim at encouraging environmentally-friendly behaviour. A quarter of respondents think they are designed to do both.

In June 2007, Gordon Brown officially became Labour leader and prime minister, replacing Tony Blair. Brown had worked as chancellor of the exchequer. Blair served as Britain’s prime minister since May 1997, winning majority mandates in the 1997, 2001 and 2005 elections to the House of Commons.

On Mar. 12, British chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling unveiled the 2008 budget, which introduced a series of fiscal measures related to the environment. Darling announced that, starting in 2009, a new system of taxation will aim at encouraging the production of small cars. Vehicles with large engines will have higher taxes, while companies producing environmentally-friendly cars will get tax cuts. Darling also said a planned increase on fuel taxes would not be implemented for another six months due to increasing oil prices.

Darling also warned that legislation restricting the use of plastic bags would be introduced in 2009 unless the industry makes "sufficient progress on a voluntary basis" by the end of 2008. The budget also included a fund of close to $52.8 million U.S. to help households reduce their carbon emissions.

Polling Data

Do you believe that so-called green taxes are designed to encourage environmentally-friendly behaviour or to raise extra revenue?

Encourage environmentally-friendly behaviour	10%
Raise extra revenue	59%
Both	25%
Don’t know	7%

Source: YouGov
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,038 British adults, conducted from Feb. 15 to Feb. 18, 2008. No margin of error was provided.