'How did they come up with this?!' Rachel Reeves slammed after she eyes up plan to slap MILLIONS of Britons with 'crazy' holiday tax

As it stands, British motorists will be forced to fork out 3p per mile in addition to the rest of the road taxes.

The scheme is currently believed to be implemented from 2028, which could lead to drivers being faced with an extra £250 every year.

Speaking with GB News star Dawn Neesom, deputy editor of French conservative magazine Causeur, Jeremy Stubbs, laid into the plans revealed by The Telegraph.

He said the threatened tax "just seems crazy".

While abroad, drivers will still have to swallow the tax as they must record just how many miles are being driven under the new plan.

Dawn explained: "So when you go overseas, like cross the Channel into France, you could add £45 for a round trip driving across the Channel down to NIS, for example.

"The move means that British motorists could face a double cost, the UK mileage levy on top of France's motorway tolls, which, by my reckoning, means it's probably cheaper to fly and destroy that environment we all care so much about."

Mr Stubbs went on to explain the tollfare "for the upkeep of French motorways" could prove to be very costly.

"If you take the motorway, which is the best way to travel, and that round trip would be, by my calculation, £220," he forecast.

"So you're being clobbered both by taxes in France and the long arm of the Chancellor reaching across from Britain? It does seem unfair."

The deputy editor added the Government is meant to be encouraging motorists to purchase electric vehicles rather than placing a penalty on those opting for the more environmentally friendly option.

He explained: "They are making life even more complicated by them. So this is rather typical of this Government. We get mixed signals.

"On the one hand, yes, go ahead and respect the environment. On the other hand, it'll cost you a lot more."

Although in France the concept of a tax has not yet reached the halls of the Élysée Palace, he added: "I do understand, though, that in Switzerland they're thinking of a similar tax to Rachel Reeves.

"Presumably, once the Swiss learn that they are having the same idea as Rachel Reeves, they'll backtrack on it, right?" he laughed.

Current countries buying into the colloquially-named holiday tax include isolated islands Iceland and New Zealand.

"Not many people tend to drive across borders from Iceland or New Zealand, do they?" Dawn pointed out.

"This is the problem with any European country introducing it," the editor agreed. "And the current Government says that we want to get close to our European friends.

"But this is exactly the opposite as a message. How did they come up with this idea? I'm not quite sure."

AA president Edmund King criticised the tax, claiming it risked evolving into "a poll tax on wheels".

Mr King told The Telegraph: “Whilst we acknowledge the Treasury is losing fuel duty revenue as drivers go electric, the Government has to tread carefully unless their actions slow down the transition to EVs.

"We need to see the details of this proposal to ascertain whether these new taxes will be equitable or a poll tax on wheels."

Reacting to the potential new tax, deputy Reform UK leader Richard Tice blasted: "Rachel Reeves promised not to come back for more taxes.

"She lied. Not content with hammering farmers, pensioners and schools, she now has motorists in her sights.

"For years, net zero zealots have promised massive savings for motorists if they transitioned to electric vehicles, but that’s turning out to be completely false."

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