According to the Government's own figures released today over 9.4 million motorists in the UK - 43% of all car owners - will face higher bills in 2010. In Scotland, 800 000 motorists are likely to be effected. Gordon Brown had previously said the 'majority' of motorists would be better off.

Commenting today SNP Treasury Spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said: "Many of the same people who were hit with the doubling of the 10p tax rate are the same people about to be on the receiving end of Gordon Brown's car tax changes. The figures show that, in Glasgow East, 12 000 hard hit families face another tax rise in 2010.
 

"In short this means 12,000 people in this constituency will be paying between £100 and £250 a year more simply for the privilege of running a car they already own.

"With food and fuel prices rising rapidly, and with the Government failing to adopt a strategy to lower petrol and diesel prices, this change to Vehicle Excise Duty is a slap in the face to hard-pressed families the length and breadth of Scotland.

"The full scale of Brown's car tax is only now starting to emerge - according to the Treasury's own figures it is likely that over 800 000 Scottish families will be hit by this backdated charge."