Six in 10 Conservative MPs behind lower APD
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Six in 10 Conservative MPs agree that a reduction in Air Passenger Duty (APD) should be considered, a new survey by ABTA has revealed.
The ComRes and ABTA survey of 150 MPs found 49% believed the current rates were damaging UK business prospects, while 40% were concerned at the impact on the UK as an air travel hub. The survey was taken out before the A Fair Tax on Flying campaign was launched this summer, with ABTA confident that more MPs would agree now since the campaign reached 250,00 emails to MPs.
With the results suggesting the Conservative party is looking at areas that would see growth in the UK and further spurred by the public support, the association has now called for APD levels to be reviewed in government.
“The very fact that half of MPs believe current rates of APD are damaging the economy is a clear indication we need a review into the impacts of this tax before it does any further damage. Other governments, such as the Dutch, abolished the tax after a review found that the revenue raised was outweighed by the revenue lost,” said Mark Tanzer, CEO of ABTA.
