Today, Porsche GB announced it will seek a judicial review of Ken Livingstone's £25 "Congestion" charge on the grounds that it is unfair, disproportionate and will not cut either congestion or emissions.
 
The ABD is delighted that a motor manufacturer has at last found the guts to stand up for itself against bully boy tactics from the green lobby — but neither Porsche nor Ken Livingstone seem to be aware of just how unfair and disproportionate the new tax is. Our calculation shows that band G residents will be paying £161,000 per tonne for their extra emissions in central London(2).
 
The London mayor's advisor on climate change, Mark Watts has no clue at all — he said on BBC Radio 4 this morning:

"It's the 'polluter pays' principle — you will be allowed to carry on driving a big polluting car in central London, but what the new charge will mean is you have to pay for the cost of the pollution (1) that you inflict upon everyone else."

The Stern report, commissioned by the Government, suggested that £44 per tonne is an appropriate level of taxation for CO2 emissions.
 
Motorists already pay for their carbon at FIVE TIMES the level of the Stern recommendations — in fuel duty.
 
Ken Livingstone is going to charge those who live within the zone ANOTHER THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED TIMES the amount of tax that experts suggest is reasonable if they choose to own a car that creeps over the thresholds for emissions.
 
Have we found the most unfair, unreasonable and disproportionate tax ever proposed in Britain?
 
The ABD thinks so — and insult is added to injury when you realize that buyers of some brand new £40,000+ 4x4s won't have to pay the £25 whilst some (3) VW Beetle owners will.
 
It is enough to drive us all to take a taxi. Until you realise that London Taxis tend to be automatics, which all emit well over 225g/km (4) — and they don't have to pay the charge at all!