The return of road-pricing - they need the tax revenues

It is being reported that this Labour government are planning the trials of a satellite based road pricing scheme that could see drivers charged for every mile they drive. Eight areas of the country have been selected by the Government these meant to be secret trials, these trials will commence in 2010 and are expected to pave (no pun intended) the way for tolls on motorways. Do you remember the largest petition on the Number 10 website? It was the petition against road-pricing that garnered nearly 2 million signatures. As a result of this petition Douglas Alexander, the then Transport Minister, said that the government would "listen to people". Since then Gordon Brown has incessantly promised to listen and learn but it would seem that he and his government just don't take account of what they are told. Last year I wrote:

"Still I am sure that as Gordon Brown has 'vowed that he would "listen" and "learn"' this bill be meet with his disfavour and proceed no further. Hold on, news reaches me that this policy would raise taxes so I think any opposition from Gordon Brown is unlikely."

It looks as though I was correct, the Labour government has even less money to spare than it did last year; Gordon needs the money so he will press ahead with this scheme and the British people can just "go hang".