Council Tax - Scrap it don't tinker with it!

10.48.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 21st Feb 2005

Tory discounts are a weak response to a fundamentally unfair tax - argues Cllr Duncan Hames.

"The only thing to do with the Council Tax is to scrap it." says Duncan Hames

"The government already attempts to cushion the blow of the Council Tax for the poorest pensioners, but they can barely keep pace with the constant inflation-busting Council Tax increases." says Cllr Hames.

"Pensioners want a straight-forwardly fair system of taxation. Tory discounts are an election gimmick that completes rejects that simple request. The only thing to do with the Council Tax is to scrap it and replace it with a tax based on ability to pay." adds Cllr Hames.

Commenting on Michael Howard's announcement today, Edward Davey MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow to the ODPM, has criticised the plans for failing to target the most vulnerable pensioners and for offering far less than the Liberal Democrat plans to scrap Council Tax altogether.

Mr Davey said:

"Michael Howard has finally realised that the tax that he and his Party introduced is an unfair burden. But he wouldn't scrap it.

"The Liberal Democrat proposals to scrap Council Tax will save the average pensioner far more than the Tory plans, with more than half of pensioners paying no Local Income Tax at all.

"The Tories have once again failed to target the most vulnerable. After revaluation, many pensioners would still struggle to pay, even with the Tory discount. Pensioners should be wary that this is a promise based on uncosted figures.

"Scrapping Council Tax is the only way to make local tax fair and get the most help to vulnerable pensioners."

Related Link:

[Axe The Council Tax]