Tories unveil positive green policies
The Conservatives are to consider green policies which are expected to include refunds on stamp duty when people buy a carbon neutral home, reductions in council tax for low energy residences and cuts in VAT on materials that lead to energy savings.
The plans are to be released in a report on Thursday by the Quality of Life policy group, which was set up by Tory leader, David Cameron, to churn out policies, putting a serious emphasis on environmental issues. The proposals are not binding on the Conservatives, but are likely to be well received by the party. One of the most controversial ideas would be to replace the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) with a much more hippy sounding HPI (Happy Planet Index). That’s literally hippy sounding. The index would measure national success on human wellbeing and happiness as well as economic success. Perhaps the Tories really are turning over a new young leaf (I wonder what Maggie would say about it?).
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One of the positives ideas the Tories are putting forward is to encourage the nation to go green rather than penalising green sins, although the report is expected to support taxing gas-guzzling cars. In a thoroughly radical move, the report is also expected to recommend restricting airport expansion and impose greater taxes on flying
