Mid Worcestershire Liberal Democrats

Press Release 15th August 2006

DROITWICH LIB DEMS CAMPAIGN TO AXE THE TAX

Councillors Margaret Rowley and Janet Clarke were out and about in Droitwich Spa last Saturday collecting signatures on their petition calling for the Government to put a stop to the unfair Council Tax.

“ Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for some time to replace Council Tax with Local Income Tax. Council Tax is based on property valuations made over 10 years ago. It's expensive to administer and discriminates unfairly against those on lower incomes - especially pensioners.” said Margaret.

Janet added “Local Income Tax is based on people’s ability to pay and can be set by local councillors to fund all local government services instead of being controlled by national government hand-outs as they are now.”

Liberal Democrats plans for introducing fairer, simpler and greener taxes were launched by the Party’s tax commission last Friday. Dr Vince Cable, Shadow Chancellor, launched proposals take 2 million people on low income out of the tax system and cut the basic tax rate by 2p in the pound. Other proposals are to tackle climate change by taxing pollution and simplify the system by cutting the number of tax rates.

Further details of the Axe the Tax campaign can be seen on a special web site www.axethetax.org.uk where anyone who missed Saturday’s session can sign electronically.