He may just be calling Cameron’s bluff, but Menzies Campbell is calling for the Tory leader to agree to five broad “green principles” that would underpin policy. His justification is that should Cameron stop fannying around and agree to them the combined votes could make an immediate difference to tax policy on environmental issues.

As outlined in a speech in Norwich the five points are-

* Green taxes should be used to change behaviour

* Green taxes – including excise duty on fuel – should not fall in real terms from year to year

* There should be a substantial increase in the top rate of Vehicle Excise Duty

* The climate change levy should be reformed into a universal carbon tax – including household emissions as well as business emissions

* Air passenger duty should be restructured as a tax on aircraft emissions, not passengers

Technorati tag: Environment, Taxes, Menzies Campbell, David Cameron