Meanwhile…
Burnham’s net zero secretary wants to raise tax to stop people flying
Minister supported green levies that could add hundreds of pounds to regular holidays
Andy Burnham’s new net zero minister has previously pushed for green taxes on plane tickets to drive down air travel.
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”.
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Miatta Fahnbulleh.....[more]