Complex sentence: The phrase originated with a campaign by the Consumers' Association in 1998 aimed at lowering car prices in Britain, which were at the time, and despite legislation outlawing the practice, significantly higher than the EU average.
Split into simpler sentences: The phrase originated with a campaign by the Consumers' Association in 1998. It was aimed at lowering car prices in Britain; at the time, despite legislation outlawing the practice, British car prices were significantly higher than the EU average.