APD campaign hits 100,000 target
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Air Passenger Duty levels are to be discussed in Parliament following A Fair Tax on Flying’s success in gaining 100,000 supporters.
The achievement, called ‘fantastic’ by one member, comes after eight weeks of campaigning through social media to raise awareness of the taxes amongst the public and MPs.
Now that 100,000 people have shown support by emailing their MP, the issue will be raised in a Parliamentary session. However, the campaign has urged people to continue showing their support and lobby for the taxes to be revised.
“We hope this will lead to the Chancellor calling off further APD increases planned for the next Budget, and instead announce a study of the impacts of APD on the UK economy,” said Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association.
During the eight weeks, the Prime Minister received 200 emails from constituents and more than half (5,700) were sent to Cabinet members. The top 10 emailed MPs (see below) are all based in areas close to Heathrow and Gatwick in the Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Hampshire areas.
Top 10 emailed MPs
Mr Henry Smith MP, Crawley – 835
Dr Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Spelthorne – 670
Mr Michael Gove MP, Surrey Heath – 606
Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Horsham – 596
Mr Adam Afriyie MP, Windsor – 592
Hon Nicholas Soames MP, Mid Sussex – 550
Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, Runnymede and Weybridge – 547
Mr Sam Gyimah MP, East Surrey – 496
Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Maidenhead – 487
Mr Dominic Grieve MP, Beaconsfield – 483