MP Stephen Ladyman is urging the Government to strike a new deal with motorists or risk losing power.

He warns people will break their attachment to politicians before they break their attachment to the car.

“If we are serious about reducing the carbon footprint of the car we have to stay in power to do it, and that means striking a new deal with the motorist,” said the MP for South Thanet, a former transport minister.

“We need more of the carrot and less of the stick.”

Dr Ladyman is calling for the Government to scrap the fuel duty escalator and replace it with a tax system which recognises that when fuel prices rise, the Government’s VAT take goes up so fuel duty can be decreased.

“I think this would be fair to the motorist and fair to the Government,” said Dr Ladyman.

He also believes the Government should introduce a vignette system to ensure foreign hauliers are made to contribute to the cost of UK roads and a “feebate” system which would reduce the cost of buying a cleaner new car using a tax credit, paid for by people buying a more polluting car.