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Tory attempt to block car tax plans defeated

02/07/2008

A motion by the Conservative party to block the government's controversial vehicle excise duty plans has been defeated in a Commons vote.

The motion was struck down by 303 votes to 240, giving Labour a comfortable 63-vote majority on the issue.

The move by the government recommends applying higher tax to cars that produce the most pollution - which could mean owners of older cars being forced to pay more tax because of their vehicles' lower emissions standards.

The Treasury claims the changes will mean the majority of drivers will find they pay less tax or their contributions remain the same.

But opponents of the plans have suggested that the poorest drivers may be hit hardest because they own vehicles with outdated emissions control systems.

The Conservatives proposed changing the motion so that the rules only applied to owners of newer models produced after 2001.

However, this proposal has failed, despite the motion being signed by 49 Labour MPs.