Press Releases Official press releases from FlyingMatters

Three quarters of voters in key marginal seats believe that the tax on flying is just another ‘stealth’ tax and even more were unaware that there are huge hikes in the tax planned for this November and next year.  89 per cent of voters were unaware of the planned rises and a huge majority (70 per cent) think that the rises are unfair.

The findings were revealed in a new poll of marginal seats conducted by independent pollsters, Crosby|Textor|Pepper for pro-aviation campaign, FlyingMatters.   These seats will be the key battleground between the main Parties at the next General Election.  1004 voters were interviewed between 1 and 11 July 2009.

Currently, a family of four flying economy to the furthest destinations pays £160 in tax.  This will rise to £220 in November 2009 and to £340 in November 2010.

Almost two thirds (62 per cent) of voters are worried that the rise in the cost of flying will hinder the economic recovery by causing the cost of doing business abroad to rise.  Even more voters (70 per cent) fear that it will mean fewer tourists coming to the UK.

This coincides with a doubling in the number of people in these marginals concerned about the economy (21 per cent this year compared to 9 per cent in 2008) and a rise of 10 percentage points in  the number worried about unemployment (10 per cent this year compared to none last year) since a similar survey carried out by Crosby|Textor|Pepper for FlyingMatters last year.

The poll adds to fears that the Government has underestimated its recently-revealed figures showing that 1.5 million people in the UK would be priced out of flying by the tax hikes.  More than half (59 per cent) of the respondents said that the rise in the cost of flying meant they would fly less often and 44 per cent said it would prevent them going on holiday.

Commenting on the findings, Chairman of FlyingMatters, Rt Hon Brian Wilson, said:

“Voters rightly recognise APD as a ‘stealth’ tax with wings,  They recognise it not only as a threat to their  own desire to fly occasionally, but also as a short-sighted measure which will harm economic recovery.

“Exactly the same considerations have led other countries like the Netherlands and Spain to remove aviation taxes rather than increase them. Politicians here should take heed and recognise that air passengers are also voters who will make their views known at the ballot box”.
Notes for Editors

1. FlyingMatters is the national campaign for flying whose members include business, trade unions, tourism bodies, farmers in the developing world as well as the aviation industry (airports, airlines, aerospace manufacturers and air traffic control).  A full list of members is available at http://www.flyingmatters.org.uk/about/
2. Rt Hon Brian Wilson is a former Labour Government Minister and MP.  A biography can be found here http://www.flyingmatters.org.uk/about/
3. The poll was carried out by Crosby|Textor|Pepper for FlyingMatters.   The sample used was 1004 voters aged over 18 from within a selection of the most marginal Labour and Liberal Democrat seats (new boundaries).   Respondents were contacted randomly by telephone between 1 and 11 July 2009.  For more information on Crosby|Textor|Pepper see http://www.crosbytextor.com/About_Who.htm
4. FlyingMatters commissioned a similar poll, conducted by Crosby|Textor|Pepper, of the same marginal seats in 2008. �
5. The share of vote indication in this poll is in line with current national polls (Conservatives 44%, Labour 20%, Liberal Democrats 18%, others 18%.  Though a relatively large proportion (26%) of voters remain ‘soft’ (i.e. might change their mind on how to vote).