Chewing gum tax proposed

An Early Day Motion (EDM) by a Labour MP (who else?*) proposing a tax on chewing gum:

That this House notes the disgusting mess that discarded chewing gum makes of streets in the UK; further notes the financial burden this blight has on local authorities; and calls on the Government to introduce a levy on every pack of chewing gum sold with the revenue being given to local authorities in order to cover the cost of cleaning up this unsightly mess.

The Fisherman may be being naive, but doubts that this proposal will be taken up. One wishes to believe that Gordon Brown is not totally lacking in shame. Greed is one thing, but one doubts whether even he would be brazen enough to impose this tax.

Not really in the mood to argue against this idea, but a few things. Will the money from the levy be hypothecated for the purpose of cleaning the streets? Doubtful. Second, dirty streets are dirty streets, whether being caused by gum chewing youths, smokers dropping cigarette butts everywhere, or whatever. Granted, it takes special effort to remove gum from the streets, but that is what we are currently paying our local authorities for, not so? The exorbitant above-inflation council taxes they charge should be more than enough to ensure that the streets are sparkling clean.

The Fisherman abhors the chewing of gum in public, but for reasons of taste and decency. A separate issue altogether.

Anyway, we will see. If this proposed levy makes it into law, you will read about it here.

* I suppose the LibDems could be just as likely to propose this, but they have been rather quiet of late.

Hat tip: Dizzy Thinks.

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