CHANCELLOR Kenneth Clarke risks losing the support of millions of company car drivers if he turns to the fleet industry to fund pre-election tax cuts in next month's Budget. Leading fleet managers said suggestions of a £3 billion increase in company car taxation outlined in the new Charterhouse Report would be disastrous for the car industry and UK plc.

Although fleet managers said they wanted to see further reform of company car taxation in the longer term, for the present, most expressed the desire for a period of stability. The majority of those we spoke to predicted Clarke would do little or nothing to directly affect the company car in his last Budget before next year's general election - a situation many would be happy with. However, a number of key issues emerged as favourites for reform, including: