THE MP for Macclesfield has urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown to review the "unfair" changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) contained in this year's Budget.
Veteran Conservative Sir Nicholas Winterton told him: "The United Kingdom motorist is the most highly taxed in the world."
Raising the issue at Prime Minister's question time, he said people in rural areas depended on cars because of a lack of public transport.
Sir Nicholas said: "Will you listen to the motorists of this country because in many areas, particularly rural areas like my constituency of Macclesfield, there is very little if any public transport and a motor vehicle is essential.
"Will you review now the proposals contained in the Budget dramatically to increase the vehicle excise duty which is unfair and penalises rural areas of this country."
Mr Brown insisted the car tax changes, which will see the most polluting cars pay £950, will actually benefit most drivers.
He said: "I take seriously the needs of the motorists in this country. But I think when you look at the proposals, the majority of motorists either benefit or pay no more in VED as a result of these Budget proposals."
He said Conservative former transport minister Steven Norris warned that the Tories would reintroduce the fuel duty escalator and people "would pay more in green taxes".
