THE QUEEN has come out against the Congestion Charge, arguing that the £10 fee for driving in central London “is a tax”.
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Usually, the Queen is careful not to pronounce on day-to-day political issues since these are deemed outside her mainly ceremonial role, but maybe the Congestion Charge riled Her Majesty so much that she couldn’t keep her views to herself and, according to a new biography, let them slip to the US ambassador.
Sally Bedell Smith includes in her book Elizabeth The Queen mention of a 2005 meeting between the Queen and former US ambassador Robert Tuttle, which, Bedell Smith says, went something like this:
Queen: I understand you think the congestion charge is a tax?
Tuttle: Yes, ma’am.
Queen: Well, it is a tax.
By choosing the US ambassador as confidant, the Queen was making a strong statement as the American government, along with some others, refuses to pay the Congestion Charge for its diplomatic vehicles, precisely on the grounds that “it is a tax”. By tradition, diplomats don’t pay many local taxes, but do pay local fees and charges.
Both current London Mayor Boris Johnson and previous office holder, Ken Livingstone – who introduced the Congestion Charge – have railed against the US Embassy and its lack of respect for London rules leading to an unpaid bill of about £6 million. Probably the people at the embassy just trot out the diplomatic version of, “Yeah, but the Queen’s on our side, so shove it!”
The Queen pays the Congestion Charge on some of her vehicles, though at a 90% discount, but not others. A royal spokesperson admitted that, “State vehicles which do not have a licence plate are exempt”.
