New Labour Rubbish: Pay as you throw.

The days of free rubbish collections are over"

The days of free rubbish collections are over, the Government warned last night.

Environment Minister Joan Ruddock made clear that Labour will press ahead with pay-as-you-throw charges which are likely to cost families an extra £50 a year.

Despite widespread public opposition to the move, she claimed bin taxes could have “a very significant impact on levels of waste and recycling”.

Ms Ruddock vowed: “We need to test this, and test it rigorously.”

But her uncompromising remarks were a huge embarrassment for Gordon Brown, demolishing claims from his aides that Labour had ditched the rubbish tax scheme. And the plans were already turning into chaos last night as it emerged that not a single council has volunteered to take part in a series of pilot schemes scheduled for next year.

This is a wonderful example of a Government in MELTDOWN.

Cool, let them keep on working out ever more ways of taxing the people of these fair lands, let them show that they mean "we will do as we please" when Gordon speaks of "listening".

The more they do this, the more voters they will lose come the election.

The Government asked councils a month ago to volunteer for pilot bin tax schemes, offering around £1million to town halls willing to get involved. But yesterday Ms Ruddock was forced to admit that none had come forward. Despite the complete lack of interest, however, she made it clear that Labour will press ahead.

Of course not, after all councils will know that any costs will be passed to the locals, locals who will be up in arms and who will not re-elect the councillors who foisted this on them. Add to that that even councils know that should it all go wrong they will be blamed by Gordon Browns government.

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