Labour is plotting extra £12,000 stealth tax on every lorry in Britain

Labour will cripple Britain's supermarkets and drive up the cost of food with a £6 billion stealth tax on hauliers, campaigners have warned.

Clive Lewis, a key lieutenant in the Shadow Treasury team, is pushing to dramatically put up lorry taxes by up to £12,096 a year per truck.

But last night he was warned this would spark chaos for shoppers as it risks bankrupting the country's 496,000-strong haulage industry, which moves 98 per cent of all goods consumed in the UK. Left-winger Mr Lewis has declared a Labour administration with John McDonnell in No 11 would review the 'entire spread of environmental taxes and tax reliefs'.

And he told the Commons Finance Bill Committee that Ministers should 'apply 'polluter pays' disincentives in the form of increased taxes', demanding powers to amend Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and other taxes.

He said: 'No one wants to see HGV businesses go out of business, but everyone in Committee would agree that it is right for people to pay the appropriate level of tax.' He added: 'Research suggests that HGVs are paying for only 11 per cent of their UK road infrastructure costs, predicting a shortfall of about £6 billion.'

And he cited a report by the Campaign For Better Transport charity that argues HGVs should pay £6 billion more in taxes which would work out at £12,096.77 more tax for each truck operated domestically.

His incendiary comments prompted the Road Haulage Association to brand them 'naive' and 'beyond belief'.

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: 'It is clear from his comments that Clive Lewis, sees our industry as the bad guys – the emission bandits. Nothing could be further from the truth.

'What is even more shocking is the cavalier approach of Mr Lewis, who is content to 'see HGV businesses go out of business' as a direct consequence of this tax hike.'

And Tory MP Simon Hoare blasted: 'John McDonnell's sidekick has revealed the latest of Labour's stealth tax policies that would not only put Britain's crucial haulage industry on its knees but also lead to a massive rise in the costs of basic goods at the supermarket for hardworking families.

'It just goes to show that Labour don't care about people's jobs and are too incompetent to run Britain's economy.'

Labour hit back: 'The real threat to hauliers is this Tory Government and their failure to secure a Brexit deal which is in the industry's interests.'


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