If like Guido you remain resolutely unconvinced that the world is about to suffer climate catastrophe because of man-made carbon emissions, the idea of slapping “green” taxes on everything that moves just looks like an excuse for more taxes. The truth of this is evident in that they don’t propose to cut taxes on less carbon intensive modes, which would incentivise their uptake.

If, as with Guido’s family, there are three countries you call home, it is particularly penal. Short of slowly sailing around Western Europe with a horse and cart in the hold, Guido is going to have to pay a lot of “green taxes”. Will it change his behaviour? No, it will just cost more. Will it make a blind bit of difference to the condition of the planet? No.

Gummer and Goldsmith (in particular) are obssessed with reversing the modern way of life for the many and returning us back to some romanticised peasant life. If they didn’t have the carbon emissions bogeyman the environmentalists would make something else up to further this aim. This is just another racket giving eager politicians an excuse to raise taxes.