A SOUTH Essex MP has slated the givernment following the recently announced decision to raise charges at the Dartford Crossing.

Conservative Richard Holden represents Basildon and Billericay, and says: "Now Labour Ministers have finally discovered the Crossing's location, after a ham-fisted interview from a Minister, they have decided to slap a massive tax increase on it that will hammer working people.

"This 40 per cent increase in the charge for crossing the Thames is just the latest example of Labour's war on the motorist.

"We've already seen Labour's Mayor shaft every car and van driver who works in London and now we're seeing Labour MPs from across Kent and Essex screw their own constituents with big hikes in fees for people using the crossing every day to get to work or education.

"This is another tax on the hard-pressed motorist from a Labour party that has already betrayed working people after they lied about the National Insurance Tax rise before the election only to hit workers and small businesses up and down the country with it months later."