Dear Rishi, families shouldn’t be taxed for choosing green option
Energy boss calls for zero VAT on products that help environment
THE Daily Express Green Britain Needs You crusade has won strong support from an energy industry chief and Alan Titchmarsh.
The nation’s favourite gardener penned an inspiring message to readers urging them to ensure we leave a healthy planet to our children as well as our grandchildren.
He wrote: “Being green and environmentally aware is something that each of us can do in our own way.
“Only by taking individual responsibility are we entitled to lobby governments and local councils so that they sit up and listen.Together we can do this.”
At the same time the chief executive of the UK’s fastest growing energy supplier, Bulb, threw his weight behind this newspaper’s call for Zero for Zero – zeroVAT for products with zero or nearzero greenhouse gas emissions.
The tax is deterring Britons from making climate-friendly choices such as buying electric cars or installing solar panels.
Hayden Wood said: “Families shouldn’t be taxed for choosing green options, so let’s scrap VAT on green products. This would make green technology more affordable for millions of people.
“We’re backing the Zero for Zero campaign because we think everyone should be able to benefit from the green recovery.”
In an open letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, he called on him to show world leadership ahead of November’s COP 26 climate change summit in Glasgow. Hayden wrote: “I’m writing to ask you to take urgent action in the upcoming 2021 Budget and make green products more affordable by reducing the rate ofVAT charged on them to zero. “This step would make green technology cheaper for millions of households as the UK looks to reach its net-zero ambitions. “Ahead of COP26 this year, Bulb is calling for the UK to show bold commitment to the green recovery by extending VAT exemption to electric vehicles and associated charging technology, heat pumps, batteries, solar panels, secondary or double glazing, low-carbon boilers and white goods, as well as insulation and other energy efficiency fittings. “Many of these products are currently levied at the full 20 per cent VAT rate.” He noted electric cars are rated for the tax just like petrol or diesel vehicles. Scrapping VAT on a Honda e electric car, inset below, would cut its price by £4,526 to £22,633.
The UK is committed to meeting net zero by 2050, which means eliminating greenhouse gas emissions or offsetting any remaining by, say, planting trees.
Sales of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030.
Other examples given by Bulb if 20 per cent VAT on green gear was axed include:
● Cutting the cost of an electric heat pump by £1,496 from £8,981 to £7,484.
● Taking £550 off the £3,300 price of electric batteries.
● Reducing solar panel costs by £1,332 to £6,662.
● Shaving £73 from the £440 cost for a single double glazing sliding window.
Hayden said Brexit had freed the Chancellor’s hands because Britain is no longer bound by the EU’sVAT rules.
He said the Government should use the recovery from Covid to support and encourage families “to make decisions that help to fight the climate crisis”.
Bulb supplies 100 per cent renewable electricity and carbon neutral gas across the UK, France, Spain and Texas.
● YOU can also do your bit by signing the Daily Express petition to lobby the Government to adopt pro-green tax measures. It states: “Britain should boost the fight against the climate crisis by scrappingVAT on low and zero carbon products.” To sign our petition now go to express.co.uk/greenpetition