A TIMES poll showed 92 per cent of British citizens opposed the two-stage imposition of a value-added tax on domestic fuel and heating. Unperturbed by these figures, British chancellor Kenneth Clarke said in a television interview, that they must go ahead to help bring down the L50 billion borrowing requirement.

This enraged the Labour Party, who denounced the statement as a "shameful performance", and Right-wing Conservatives, who had sought spending cuts rather than higher taxes.

Meanwhile, the UK urged its European Community partners to abandon demands for a communitywide carbon tax. "We don't see it as necessary at home," said British environment minister Tim Yeo, because the country had taken other measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.