Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

872 published comments with 43 censored.

What do you think of the Mayor or London’s proposals to increase the congestion charge for vehicles such as 4x4s?

Ken Livingstone has announced plans for a big increase in congestion charge for the most polluting vehicles on the road.

From 2009, there will be a £25.00 daily charge for vehicles in emissions band G (including many 4x4 models) to enter central London.

A year earlier, charging will be abolished for cars in Bands A&B which produce the lowest carbons emissions.

Do you agree with Ken Livingtone’s proposals? Will it make a difference in tackling climate change? Should a similar charge be introduced to other towns and cities in the UK? Send us your comments.

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The following comments were censored from this thread on the BBC's 'Have Your Say' section of their news website.

Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by marksta on Tue Nov 14 11:26:36 GMT 2006. 2 recommendations.

It's comical when city 4x4 owners accuse non 4x4 owners of being jealous of them! It just proves that their ownership is a status symbol; a vehicular equilavent of a "certain bodypart" extention.

Quadruple the proposed charge!!!!

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by ScepticMax on Tue Nov 14 11:21:03 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

You foolish Londoners voted in this envious sucker-up to dictators and islamofascist. Vote him out.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by bachenbulach on Tue Nov 14 11:47:04 GMT 2006. 2 recommendations.

Top man Darren. yours is the most accurate and best summation of Red Ken. London get rid of him he is a menace to society.

Ken Livingston is a jealous, patronising, communist idiot who is waging a class war against people like myself who have ambition. If he can't tax your pay packet directly, he will do it through stealth tax. His ilk will never rest until we are a repressed communist state.

Darren Drummond, Whitburn, United Kingdom

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by jtjcp88 on Tue Nov 14 12:02:24 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

Looks like PenisEnlargement.com are going to make a fortune out of this scheme.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Spankbucket on Tue Nov 14 11:57:13 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Those affected by this outrageous intention should get the same Human Rights lawyer that the imprisoned drug addicts used to win their case for reimbursement of their addiction at tax payers expense.

Probably the G band drivers are already paying the lion's share of the tax that supported that decision!

They should revolt and refuse to pay. Then in jail they can fight the case from a position of strength!!

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by luckyjackieboy on Tue Nov 14 11:55:57 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

STOP PICKING ON THE MAYOR..
I happen to know that he loves:

Pies
Chips
Beans
Bread and butter (white)
Jam Roly Poly.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by TerryTeeshirt on Tue Nov 14 12:16:01 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

I travel from Nottingham to Northampton every day:

Anyone requiring a lift please get in touch

Car sharing - it's the only way forward

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by wmorgan999 on Tue Nov 14 12:35:05 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

"I need an MPV or large 4x4 for my four kids "

4x4 refers to the drive mechanism - not your procreation rate!!

maybe here lies part of the problem - we have too many people in the country and on the earth as it is - never heard of a condom! or birth control - by the time your 4 kids all have there own 4x4 there will be no room to move.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Webstu1234 on Tue Nov 14 12:32:47 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

So what of those with a large family? I need an MPV or large 4x4 for my four kids - or would Ken have me buy a little car and keep one of them on the boot????????????????

Linda Devlin, Oxshott

You shouldn't be allowed to have 4 kids the country is crowded enough as it is!!

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by magic_lantern on Tue Nov 14 11:50:31 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

Oh I get it,

My 4x4 that has 7 passengers has to pay more than a small hatchback with just one driver popping out to buy a paper from the newsagent 20 meters down the road.

This really isn’t about the environment and certainly not a congestion charge when that chiselling little crook of a mayor demands building developments are to be made more dense, ie. Pack more people in.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by ScepticMax on Tue Nov 14 13:11:25 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Does anyone know where to get a forged 'disabled' badge?

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Webstu1234 on Tue Nov 14 13:02:09 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

I would prefer a large policeman stopping every 4x4 on the way into london and instead of paying a tax they should have a punch in the face for being so fat and irritating.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Star-boy on Tue Nov 14 14:04:47 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

I will now spend somewhere other than London, sorry London traders / theatres / restaurants but you can blame red ken for the fact the people with high disposable income aren’t in town anymore

[Newport-Pagnell], Newport Pagnell, United Kingdom

Stop talking like a spoiled brat! People with high emission cars just don't want to take responsibility for their actions.
Oh, and by the way, where you spend your 'disposable' income won't matter when we have an environmental catastrophe,

See how much your money matters then!

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Star-boy on Tue Nov 14 14:24:20 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

People with large disposable incomes do have a choice - some will choose to leave London, others, like me, will just enjoy the less congested roads more. Now, where is that Hummer brochure......

Righty Rightwing

The idiotic attitudes of morons like you, is the reason Global Warming has become so serious!

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by DJDrum on Tue Nov 14 14:34:32 GMT 2006. 2 recommendations.

Dear Darren,
Your ambition is to destroy this planet and mankind.

eddie gould, United Kingdom

How dare you!

You know nothing about me. I do not drive a polluting vehicle and I design environmetally friendly buildings every day of my working life.

I have declined to get personal on many occasions on HYS but you take the absolute biscuit. Why don't you move to North Korea where your ilk is very welcome. Ersehole!

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by brother_bigg on Tue Nov 14 14:34:04 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

"The Congestion charge for the idiots that drive these things should be much higher. Kids in Chelsea have the worst asthma in the country because so many of their parents drive these unnecessary things.

Steve Grange, Manchester "


Where is the link between 4x4s and Asthma ?

I can see a link between Manchester and being thick , but my science is proven.

Also, how do you know about "parents" in the plural ?

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Harry-Flashman on Tue Nov 14 15:04:11 GMT 2006. 3 recommendations.

Hehe, I'd love to see Blair pull up at Number 10 in a Smart car.

Holger Laux, Bristol, United Kingdom

I'd love to see him driven out of Downing St in the back of a squad car, in handcuffs, having been arrested for selling dubious peerages to rich businessmen in exchange for grubby donations.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by robertsharr on Tue Nov 14 15:02:25 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

Great choice of topic Beeb.

It's got everything, a loony mayor; embitted left-wing failures; selfish city whizkids; car enthusiast "anoraks"; tree hugging global warmers - you name it....
All the 4X4s in London couldnt produce this much hot air.

PS anyone noticed that most 4X4 drivers are white ???

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by lotvalley on Tue Nov 14 15:19:03 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

Hehe, I'd love to see Blair pull up at Number 10 in a Smart car.

Holger Laux, Bristol, United Kingdom

I'd love to see him driven out of Downing St in the back of a squad car, in handcuffs, having been arrested for selling dubious peerages to rich businessmen in exchange for grubby donations.

[Harry-Flashman]

And I'd love to see him resisting arrest.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by DownWithFreeloaders on Tue Nov 14 15:26:23 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

These same right wingers think it is perfectly ok for asian men to be looked away for days on end if they are "suspected" of terror. Even if there is no evidence whatsoever it doesn't affect them so they don't care. I am so glad I am not a right winger.
widuran Bertram, Letchworth, United Kingdom

Didn’t this get voted in by Labour you can hardily say they are right wing? And it is about stopping people from blowing us up.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by 24163124 on Tue Nov 14 14:36:25 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

To all those 4x4 commuters to Londonstan.....ha ha ha ha , get yourselves up here to Perth,fresh air,wonderfull countryside and no congestion........on second thoughts don't. Stay in your flea pit.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by MaggieMay06 on Tue Nov 14 15:07:15 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CAN WE HAVE A NEW TOPIC DEBATE ON EMMIGRATION ???? IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ALL NEED CHEERING UP !!

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by luckyjackieboy on Tue Nov 14 14:41:47 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

MR O'BOYLE.

Good scottish name , that.

Flea pit is most apt. The bloodsucking parasites that govern London.It's called County Hall .

I would stay in Perth if I were you. The benefits office might lose track of your new address.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by robertsharr on Tue Nov 14 15:32:19 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

"
Personally I'd like to see Blair and his whole crowd driven out in a Black Mariah, tried and sentenced for treason then hung publicly."

Neil - - As a civilised human being I couldnt possibly agree to such a barbarous suggestion.

If you were to include his ghastly wife, however, I might be prepared to make an exception.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Snaps666 on Tue Nov 14 16:18:33 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Keep raising prices Ken, just keep going? Whats next a charge for walking on overcrowded pavements?

Total and utter idiot

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Webstu1234 on Tue Nov 14 17:16:56 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Although everyone talks about 4x4s, the real victims in all this are large families with people carriers.
Stool-pigeon

Because someone put a gun to your head and forced you to have unprotected sex 4 times.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by AllanCH on Tue Nov 14 17:16:44 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Stuart S said
"Here are some official facts on 4x4 owners (and not sweeping statements like a lot of other posters):

1. All 4x4 owners are overweight.
2. All 4x4 owners kids are overweight.
3. All 4x4 owners diets consist of fast food.
4. All 4x4 owners drive the kids 10 yards from home to the school gate because they are too lazy to walk.
5. Main hobbies of all 4x4 owners: fox hunting and defecating on trains.
6. All 4x4 owners drive with their snobby nose in the air because they have self inflated egos and think they are more important than everyone else."

Bloody hell...he must know me! ExceptI do hate foxhunting!!!!!LOL

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by leftwing on Tue Nov 14 17:09:01 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Here are some official facts on 4x4 owners (and not sweeping statements like a lot of other posters):

1. All 4x4 owners are overweight.
2. All 4x4 owners kids are overweight.
3. All 4x4 owners diets consist of fast food.
4. All 4x4 owners drive the kids 10 yards from home to the school gate because they are too lazy to walk.
5. Main hobbies of all 4x4 owners: fox hunting and defecating on trains.
6. All 4x4 owners drive with their snobby nose in the air because they have self inflated egos and think they are more important than everyone else.

Based on these official facts I think it only fair they are taxed more.

Hope this helps.

Stuart S

LOL They are also anti Liberal.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Webstu1234 on Tue Nov 14 17:05:49 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Here are some official facts on 4x4 owners (and not sweeping statements like a lot of other posters):

1. All 4x4 owners are overweight.
2. All 4x4 owners kids are overweight.
3. All 4x4 owners diets consist of fast food.
4. All 4x4 owners drive the kids 10 yards from home to the school gate because they are too lazy to walk.
5. Main hobbies of all 4x4 owners: fox hunting and defecating on trains.
6. All 4x4 owners drive with their snobby nose in the air because they have self inflated egos and think they are more important than everyone else.

Based on these official facts I think it only fair they are taxed more.

Hope this helps.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by sane_jane on Tue Nov 14 14:47:05 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

I think we should pause for a moment and offer our condolences to the poor victimised 4x4 brigade. After all, they obviously haven't a clue about cars - have to crawl along because they don't know how to drive them - pay twice as much for a car that makes them look a complete prat and pay for all that petrol\diesel that the monster consumes.
Yes Yes Yes - get them off the road!!!!

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by robertsharr on Tue Nov 14 17:00:24 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

"Polution isn't the best reason for banning these monsters though, they're absolutely lethal to pedestrians and other drivers, cyclists etc."

Alanovich - I was right with you on this, until you got to the bit about being lethal to cyclists......now I'm starting to think 4x4s may have their uses after all.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by D0MONIC01 on Tue Nov 14 14:37:33 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

Last time i looked i lived in a free country, I for one will not be putting my personal safety or health at risk traveling on public transport, I have a car and intend keeping a car, the sooner they progress technology the better, the sooner government gets rid of petrol the better. I wont travel on public transport and risk contracting untreatable TB from some illegal, here on a freebie at our expense, anybody saying TB comes from anywhere else but poor ecomomic migrants from poor countries within our borders, are only fooling themselves, I dont listen to the PC brigade that seem to deny everything, for as long as possible, putting our population at risk, whilst they stay safe.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by DJDrum on Tue Nov 14 15:46:42 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

So, after being recommended 103 times, my comment has been removed by a moderator. No doubt a sniveling commie alerted the moderator. Well I got my point across and 103 people agreed with me. One to us boys!

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by RightyRightwing on Tue Nov 14 16:25:41 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

Well today has been fun kids, but I am off now to drive my supercharged V8 British 4 x 4 home, where I will build a large fossil fuelled fire & count my blessings that I have enough money not to let a recycled marxist hypocrit like Red Ken or his useful eco idiots on the liberal left ruin my day.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Snaps666 on Tue Nov 14 16:18:18 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Keep raising prices Ken, just keep going? Whats next a charge for walking on overcrowded pavements?

Total and utter idiot

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Harry-Flashman on Tue Nov 14 16:26:52 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

co2 is a poison and we will pay for the damage we've done.
geof elgie, dorking


This is a typically ignorant comment from a typically ignorant hysterical AGW proponent.
Actually it is a strong aerial fertilizer for plants. Carbon dioxide forms the basis for most organic food chains, including ours. As for changing the atmosphere, evidence from ice cores shows quite clearly that changes in temperature PRECEDE their matching changes in carbon dioxide by several hundred to a thousand years or so, for the simple reason that a rising planetary temperature causes outgassing of dissolved carbon

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by widuran on Tue Nov 14 15:21:35 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

I find it funny when the right wingers complain about something so pathetic as charges on cars because it affects their lives as their hard earned earnings are slightly reduced by these fines.

These same right wingers think it is perfectly ok for asian men to be looked away for days on end if they are "suspected" of terror. Even if there is no evidence whatsoever it doesn't affect them so they don't care. I am so glad I am not a right winger.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by subtlepixie on Tue Nov 14 17:19:22 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

SUVs should definitely be taxed off the road, there's no question about it. The only possible reason you would actually NEED to own one of these gas-guzzlers is if you work on a farm and have to drive cross-country.
Otherwise, people simply own them to show off - they're driven by little men who are trying to compensate for something, perhaps?...

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by Star-boy on Tue Nov 14 15:16:04 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Righty Right: I apologise for calling you a "moron", it was out of order.

If the Earth is going through a natural cycle of decline, global warming is obviously going to speed up it's degeneration.

Also, just because certain people have a higher standard of living than others. Doesn't mean they can do what they like and to hell with everyone else!

Oh by the way I'm not an "eco-fascist", I'm just concerned about the environment!

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by JohnfromReading on Tue Nov 14 15:50:27 GMT 2006. 1 recommendations.

Quote:

"I hate cars. If I ever get any powers again I’d ban the lot."
- Ken Livingstone, Sunday Times, 21 November 1999

He now using the environmental and anti-4x4 bandwagon as a means to this end. Wake up you Londoners, do you really think he's going to stop here?

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by DJDrum on Tue Nov 14 11:03:54 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Ken Livingston is a jealous, patronising, communist idiot who is waging a class war against people like myself who have ambition. If he can't tax your pay packet directly, he will do it through stealth tax. His ilk will never rest until we are a repressed communist state.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by wellmiffed on Tue Nov 14 11:35:15 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Yes, I'm all for it.... these "prat waggons" should be priced of the road.

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Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge?

Written by utserviatur on Tue Nov 14 12:03:43 GMT 2006. 0 recommendations.

Should most polluting cars pay more congestion charge? You bet!!!! Selfish b*******

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