UKIP Parliamentary candidate Iain McKie has warned that a new EU-directive which could prove catastrophic for the Island’s already troubled ferry services.
The EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive – already covering the power sector, iron and steel amongst others – has recently been expanded to include aviation, and from 2018, the directive will also cover shipping.
McKie warns that this will lead to ferry travel price hikes, as Islanders pay the costs incurred to ferry companies as a result of the directive’s taxes.
He said:
“The first impact of this directive will be a subsidy for ferry owners, followed by a tax.
“The credits of this tax will then be auctioned by the member states, and the ferry companies will pass this charge onto customers.”
McKie goes on to stress that, although dressed up as a Green initiative, there is no environmental benefit, saying:
“The revenues are not ring-fenced for environmental usage, but rather become part of general taxation and will be swallowed up in the EU’s Black Hole.”
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McKie accuses Andrew Turner of being asleep at the wheel so far as the impact of this directive is concerned.
“We’ve heard lots from Turner about his misconceived plans for Island Line, and seats on the gravy train for Nick Finney, the lover of his former partner Carole Dennett. But our ferries are the lifeblood of our economy and they need real help from someone with a genuine understanding of business at this level.”
McKie is committed to supporting Wightlink and Red Funnel, but has made a manifesto pledge to bring in an Ombudsman to provide better protection for consumers.
