Heavier burden, please

When the heroic entrepreneurs of the Confederation of British Industry expressed their reservations about Gordon Brown's tax-raising Budget, we misunderstood. We thought they were worried that the stealthy rise in employers' National Insurance contributions would impose too much of a burden on members. It now turns out, though, that the CBI's objection is that Mr Brown is not raising taxes enough.

The CBI has a problem with the Government's transport plan, which is that it will only cost the taxpayer £180bn over 10 years. Apparently, it ought to cost much more – another £15bn by 2010. Mere bagatelle of course, until it comes to the question of how to raise the money. Anyone for another 0.5 per cent on employers' NI? We thought not. How about a tax on porcine air traffic, which will have no effect on business, employment or disposable income?