Despite over 1.8 million people in the UK signing an anti-toll petition, Tony Blair, claims that the scheme is not a stealth tax, but it is instead aimed at tackling congestion. Blair wrote an emailed reply to everyone who had signed the petition and insisted "Congestion is a major problem to which there is a no easy answer".
Blair also wrote in the email,
"I know many people's biggest worry about road pricing is that it will be a 'stealth tax' on motorists. It won't. Road pricing is about tackling congestion."
The idea that toll roads are being introduced to curb traffic and pollution is clearly an attempt ot divert people's attention away from the fact that they already pay for the roads with road tax, fuel tax and council tax. These toll roads are nothing more than a stealth tax, whatever the government claims.
In fact, a report picked up by the BBC by Transport for London said that congestion will increase by 8% by 2010 and that carbon dioxide emissions will also continue to increase.
From the BBC article
But he said that allowing congestion to grow unchecked "would be bad for businesses, individuals and the environment", costing an extra £22bn in wasted time in England by 2025.
Well, it would appear that far from being good for business, the congestion charge has actually contributed to falling employment rates and falling profits for business's. From the executive summary on page 5 of the report:
1. 84% of respondents reported a fall in taking since the charge was introduced.
2. 63% of respondents reported a fall in customer numbers since the charge was introduced.
7. 37% of retailers have reduced their staffing levels since the introduction of congestion charging.
8. 33% are considering relocating to a site outside of the congestion charging zone, and
28% are considering closing their business as a direct result of congestion charging.
The effect of the charge on the restaurant trade was also surveyed by the London Chamber. The following report (September 2004) was not quite as gloomy as the retail survey, but still grim.
2. Nearly 80% of respondents reported a fall in customer numbers since the charge was introduced.
6. 43% of respondents have reduced their staffing levels since the introduction of congestion charging.
7. 35% are considering relocating to a site outside of the congestion charging zone, and
8. 20% are considering closing their business as a direct result of congestion charging.
This system if implemented would, based on previous data from the congestion charge in London, have a hugely detrimental effect on business and individual freedom in the UK. Not only will business owners suffer, but, every journey will also be tracked, traced, monitored and recorded.
Clearly, the road tax is a recipe for disaster and it also highlights the fact that the governments across the globe are no longer listening to people they are supposed to serve. Despite over 1.8 million people signing a petition in opposition to the scheme, they still plan to go ahead with their plans for a stealth tax. It is time for each of us to lobby our local councillors and politicians and get them to answer some real questions on the record. If they are for this tax, then quite simply, they are for slavery. Nobody should be tracked and traced by governments who have already shown they cannot be trusted.
For more information visit Council of Truth.com

In what would be yet another erosion of individual freedom, the UK parliament is considering granting bailiffs the power to break into homes. Under the “Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill” bailiffs in the UK would be allowed to break into homes in order to repossess possessions to pay for any outstanding debt. Under the Bill, bailiffs would even be allowed to restrain people
The Citizens Advice Bureau claim in a BBC article that when they analysed 500 cases “…almost two-thirds of bailiffs were guilty of harassment or intimidation, while 40% misled people about their powers of entry.”
This alarming figure is without the powers bailiffs would be granted with the bill. David Harker, chief executive of the charity said,
“Our evidence over many years shows that bailiffs have an appalling track record of abusing their existing powers against vulnerable people.
"They are often abusive and aggressive and use threats of violence and prison to pressurise people into paying lump sums they cannot afford.
"This bill should have been the perfect opportunity to modernise the law and end abuse once and for all.
"Instead it gives bailiffs greater powers without any proper regulation - a recipe for abuse on an unprecedented scale."

With individual debt in the UK continuing to spiral – how long will it be before we are living in a two-tier system with bailiffs and the state taking personal belongings of millions who cannot afford to keep up repayments on their debts? According to Credit Action statistics:

“Average household debt in the UK is £8,791 (excluding mortgages) and £53,326 including mortgages.
Average owed by every UK adult is £27,445 (including mortgages). This grew by £265 last month.
Average interest paid by each household on their total debt is approximately £3,400 each year.
Average consumer borrowing via credit cards, motor and retail finance deals, overdrafts and unsecured personal loans has risen to £4,524 per average UK adult at the end of December 2006.
Britain's personal debt is increasing by £1 million every 3.85 minutes.”

Joint Committee on Human Rights insist that the bill may even contravene human rights as laid down by the European Convention on Human Rights. This comes after Chairman of the Law Enforcement Reform Group, Philip Evans made claims that the British bailiff is "probably the worst in the world"

This Bill would put vulnerable people at risk from unscrupulous private bailiffs. The fact is that there isn’t even a criminal records check for people who want to become bailiffs so someone with a criminal background could force their way into your home and take your possessions while having a been previously convicted. MP’s insist they will include legislation to regulate and monitor bailiffs, however, so far this legislation has yet to appear. Legislation for bailiffs is not good enough, under no circumstances should any bailiff be allowed to force entry into an individuals home.

For more information visit Council of Truth.com or the Citizens Advice Bureau website