Editor’s Eye: A dissatisfied APD response

Amanda Greenwood writes to her MP regarding APD but is not happy with the response…

Spurred by the new campaign against Air Passenger Duty last week, I filled out the online and form and sent off the letter to my local MP.

It literally took 10 seconds to do and afterwards I received an automated email saying the MP in question, Rt Hon Mark Francois, had received the letter. However I did not expect an actual letter in the post from him which had detailed his views of the tax and whether he was to back the campaign.

Unfortunately it seems he will not. Although recognising that the tax had increased and a freeze has been put in place, Francois said he would not back the campaign in a somewhat round-about way. Whilst not out-rightly saying his view (typical of a MP you may say), he used the UK’s debts; the fact its implementation had been delayed and a form of ‘balance’ to reason why the taxes should actually had been put in place and should continue to be paid.

“I do of course recognise the impact of this tax has on the cost of family holidays, especially at a time when household spending is being stretched,” his letter read. “The UK is spending over £120 million everyday on debt interest payments alone and our priority must be to restore the nation’s finances.  Tckling the debt we inherited from the previous Government will also keep interest rates lower helping business and families with mortgages. Without dealing with this, there can be no sustainable economic growth”.

While I get Francois’ point, there are many questions that spring up from this letter, particularly of the business the UK is or may miss out on if taxes continue to increase. Today the national papers said MPs are ‘overworked’ and have asked to have EVERY Friday off. The least they can do, then, is let us all have a holiday at a reasonable price. 

A Fair Tax on Flying 

By Amanda Greenwood, 2 July 2012, Monday 10:28 AM