The Commons environmental audit committee publishes a report warning that proposals to increase the rate of vehicle excise duty for high emitting cars do not go far enough to reduce carbon emissions. The report welcomed the use of VED but said the changes had been "poorly explained and communicated" and could give green taxes a bad name.” Environment Select Committee

I have written this piece on The Guardian's Commentisfree site on how green taxes fail. I'd be grateful if you would take a look and let me know your thoughts.

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Between David Cameron's announcement of a "holiday tax", Lib Dem commitments to replace direct taxation with environmental levies and the government's doubling of air passenger duty from £5 to £10 in February, there is a tangible and welcome political will to take unpopular steps to curb environmental damage. Yet there seems to be a lack of understanding of the basic principle of environmental taxation: it doesn't work.

The Daily Pundit and Tom Watson are posting on the story that Cameron's Green agenda may end up splitting the Tories and that Cameron might even face a vote of no confidence after the May elections - pretty unlikely in my view.