PowerSwitch

If you had a diesel generator as backup, surely the diesel would be exempt from Duty as it would not be going into a road going vehicle. How does one get hold of the stuff, legally?

Which brings me to my next point, Mr Brown must owe me for the extra tax I have paid for the petrol I put in the mower.

Personally I am for tax on fossil fuels, if the UK Govt had the balls to increase tax until we felt some pain now, our energy usage behaviour would change now, which would mean as shortages started to bite in a few years time, the UK would be ahead of the game. Then as TSHTF the tax element could be dropped down to cushion the blow. Obviously the increased taxation revenue should go to projects that help the UK move from a fossil fuel economy. If the Govt was clear and transparent as to what it was doing and why then most of the literate voters would understand.

How does one get hold of the stuff, legally?

Just go to a (rural?) fuel supplier and buy some!

I suppose they might refuse ... but if you have a smallholding holding number or even a business card there should be no problems.

PS Do NOT be tempted to use this illegally ... you will be severely smacked!

Cardiff docks was raided the other day with a dip day lol. Trouble is everyone phones to say they are there lol. Lots of people use red. In fact my best mate has been selling cars for 25 years and like he said if you dip every diesel you buy more often than not its had a bit of red. I dont use it myself nor do I use the car much. Taxing fuel will do nothing at all, zero. You cna tax it mental amounts - life works like this - debts = job needed, job needs car, no car no job, no job no money, no money no house all repo-ed. Hence I dont want repo best keep job and to do that car must be on road. People will go hungry before giving up their cars - we all know the answer in the short term is better public transport and in the long term we need localisation.

PS now how much of the tax will go to those projects muwhahahaha errrr none!

Red diesel is also used for central heating oil, as well as for any stationary engine or agricultural vehicle. You shouldn't have any problems getting hold of it. Most suppliers will deliver it in 1000 litre lots. Ask for "gas oil".

You'll need a tank to put it in which should be bunded if there is the likelyhood that a leak could pollute a water course. The bunding should be able to contain the contents of the tank, plus a bit. You can buy double skinned, self bunding, tanks. Most builders merchants or agricultural suppliers will get them for you. Google "Titan".

Mr Brown, for want of a better name, is not interested in taxing anthing into non use. He wants to tax every thing just enough that he gets a huge revenue stream without being seen to do so, so that the revenue stream is not interupted. No revenue neutral Green Taxes for Grasping Gordon. That's a waste of a tax. After all, he knows how to spend your money better than you do.

We can all see what Gordon is doing with his tax revenues. My thinking is more of the 'ideal world' rather than the corrupt system we have now. We can see to a limited extend how high tax on fuels in the UK has driven us (pun intended) to driving more efficient cars whereas in the ol US of A the low tax regime has allowed massive waste to continue. They will feel increases in fuel costs far more than us for 2 reasons. 1) Their vehicles are so fuel inefficent and never had the incentive to improve. 2) Since most of our fuel cost is duty, a tripling of the cost of crude does not triple the pump price.
My rational is that in an 'ideal world' the Govt would be transparent about the pain ahead. We could be made to feel some of the pain now (while we can afford it), this pain will cause us to change our ways and use energy more efficiently (nothing else will, we are just to selfish as a species, unfortunately). Then as the real decline in availability of fossil fuels bites, we will have already made real steps for change and with the money banked from the excess taxation invested in projects to help sustain the country in the new paradim.

I appreciate the knock on effect of high taxation is contraband and fuel theft. But that will happen anyway as the stuff gets more expensive. Better everyone prepares for this earlier than later. Just think anti syphon petrol tanks are now standard on cars.