Diane
Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on analysis
suggesting that major police forces are failing
to investigate more than 50 percent of burglaries, said:

“These
figures are deeply troubling. The Tories are in denial about the effects of
their broken promises on police numbers, police effectiveness and the fight
against crime.

“Not
only is there more crime under this Government, but falling numbers of officers
have meant that the police are becoming less effective at fighting crime.”

In our previous blog, we talked about the upcoming vehicle tax changes and how they’ll affect motorhomes. We’re now going to focus on imported vehicles.

As you may already know, the changes for cars and some motorhomes are:

• new standard tax rates for vehicles registered for the first time on or after 1 April 2017
• new first licence rates for new vehicles based on CO₂ emissions
• list price or notional price of the vehicle must be given to DVLA when the vehicle is first registered

Imported vehicles

For new cars and some motorhomes that are being imported into the UK (categories M1, M1SP and M1G on the type approval certificate), the changes will apply where there is a CO₂ emissions figure on the final build type approval certificate. Those vehicles without a CO₂ emissions figure on the final build type approval certificate will continue to be taxed as private light goods (PLG) tax class, as they are now. When registering an imported vehicle, the list price or notional price of the vehicle must be provided.

 New imported vehicles with a CO₂ emissions figure

For new vehicles imported with a CO₂ emissions figure, the first time the vehicle is taxed the rate will be based on the CO₂ emissions (as they are now). Take a look at the current tax rates.

From the second time the vehicle is taxed, the vehicle will be charged at the standard rate or the standard rate plus an additional rate of £310, depending on the list price or notional price. To find out what the list price is for a vehicle, contact your dealer who will be able to help.

List price or notional price of £40,000 and under

When first registered, on or after 1 April 2017, these vehicles will be charged at the standard rate of £140 (£130 for alternative fuel vehicles, £0 for vehicles with zero emissions).

 List price or notional price of over £40,000

These vehicles will be charged at the standard rate, plus the additional rate for five years, making a total of £450 (£440 for alternative fuel vehicles, £310 for vehicles with zero emissions). After five years, they will revert to the standard rate.

Used imported vehicles

If you’re importing a used vehicle into the UK, the new tax rate scheme will apply if the vehicle was first registered outside the UK on or after 1 April 2017. Vehicles registered outside the UK before this date will continue to be taxed as they are now.

If the vehicle had a list price or notional price of over £40,000 when it was first registered outside the UK, the additional rate of £310 a year will be added to the standard rate. The additional rate is applicable for either:

• a five year period from the end of the first licence (if imported and registered for the first time in the UK)
• up to six years from the date of first registration outside the UK, when imported as a used vehicle but first registered on or after 1 April 2017

Check out new vehicle tax rates from 1 April 2017 for more information.

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Paul
Blomfield MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Exiting the European Union, commenting on
reports that EU nationals are finding it difficult to get mortgages agreed by
UK lenders, said:

“How
many more reports like this does the Government need before it realises it is
committing a huge act of self-harm by not granting non-UK EU citizens
certainty?

“EU
nationals, many of whom have been here decades, will simply vote with their
feet if they can’t secure jobs or homes here.

“This
would spell disaster for our economy, our public services and our communities.

“It’s
beyond time for the Government to see sense.”

Labour
will overturn the Government’s ban on council-owned bus companies as part of a
wider strategy to put the public back into buses and deliver affordable,
greener, and accessible transport.

Labour
unveiled its bus strategy to put people not private profit first after figures
revealed that passenger journeys in England outside London have declined by 39
percent and by 53 per cent in English cities since 1986. But over the same
period in London, which kept regulation of bus services, passenger journeys
increased by 99 per cent.

Labour’s
policy includes a commitment to low emissions vehicles, Wi-Fi enabled buses,
improved joint and through ticketing schemes, mandatory disability and equality
training, and a commitment to introduce a national strategy for local bus
services, setting out objectives, targets and funding provisions, including
considering concessionary fares for 16-19 year olds.

Jeremy
Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“Labour
will create the freedom for councils to run first class bus services which the
public are proud of. The Tory legacy brought rising fares, plummeting passenger
numbers and too many areas where pensioners have a bus pass but no bus.

“Labour
wants to see local communities empowered to determine their own priorities and
reverse the decline in bus services. Labour will extend franchising powers to
all areas that want them and will overturn the ban on new community bus
companies, allowing Local Authorities to replicate the successes of the
country’s best performing operators.

“For
too long the bus industry has put profit before passengers. Labour will change
that.”

Andy
McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, said:

“Buses
are by far the most important mode of public transport, connecting communities,
places of education and businesses like no other.

“In
supporting local economies, combatting climate change, addressing air quality
and tackling social exclusion, the importance of buses cannot be over-stated.
Yet funding for buses across England and Wales has been cut by 33 per cent
since 2010 and thousands of routes have been downgraded or cut altogether,
meaning passengers across the country have to put up with sub-standard
services.

“We
want to see clean, hi-tech fleets of buses running accessible and reliable
services that meet passengers’ needs. For this to happen, we need to give
communities the power to reform bus services to make them work for passengers,
as well as ensuring the funding and strategy is in place to ensure no
communities are left behind.”

Labour’s
policy would:

•                       
Create freedom for local authorities to form their own bus companies by
removing the Government’s ban.

•                       
Extend the powers to re-regulate local bus services to all areas that want them
– not just to combined authorities with an elected mayor.

•                       
Require all new buses to meet the low-emission requirements set out by the
Government-sponsored Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

•                       
Require new vehicles to be equipped with Wi-Fi, and install Wi-Fi on existing
buses.

•                       
Introduce a national strategy for local bus services, setting out objectives,
targets and funding provisions. This would include consideration of a reduced
fare scheme for young people aged 16-19.

•                       
Require all bus drivers and staff at bus terminals to complete approved
disability equality and awareness training, including mental and physical
disabilities, by a specific date.

•                       
Ensure bus services in England make adjustments for any disabled passenger on
the bus including policies for priority wheelchair spaces. 

Labour
leader Jeremy Corbyn and shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald are in Tees
Valley today (Friday) promoting Labour’s bus policy.