Thursday, April 21, 2005
AXE THE TAX
FOCUS ON THE COUNCIL TAX
The focus of yesterday's Liberal Democrat campaign was the Council Tax and the Liberal Democrat pledge to abolish it - replacing it with a Local Income Tax, based on people's ability to pay. Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate John Beanse said:"The Council Tax has become a real burden - particularly for many families, including young families, and for pensioners.
We are open about the fact that higher earners (household income around £40,000+ p.a.) would pay more, but a Local Income Tax would mean that around 75% of people would be no worse off - or better off.
Many pensioners would be lifted out of paying local taxes altogether - a fair way of in effect increasing their disposable incomes, thus boosting the real value of their pensions and giving them a fairer deal - after perhaps a lifetime of paying taxes. Struggling families would benefit too. The calculation is that the average family would be around £450 per year better off.
This policy is stimulating much debate; we do need a much fairer system."
# posted by John Beanse @ 3:40 PM 
