Council Tax Devours Fifth Of Pensioners' Incomes

9.07.03

MP leading growing campaign to Scrap Council Tax

Local MP Edward Davey recently questioned the Government in the House of Commons over the high Council Tax Bills in Kingston and told the Minister that "For Councils like Kingston the unfairness of the tax means that the burden on pensioners and those on low incomes is already far too harsh"

New figures recently released by Liberal Democrats show council tax has hit pensioners harder and harder every year since Labour came to power. In a written answer to Mr Davey the Government admitted that council tax today accounts for more than a fifth of the basic state pension as a percentage. At 22.5% of the basic state pension, the council tax take today is 5% higher than in 1997.

Edward Davey commented

"Council tax has become a nightmare for many poorer pensioners, including many in my own constituency. Council Tax, which was rushed in by the Tories after the failure of their disastrous Poll Tax, has now been made worse under Labour.

"These new figures show that Council Tax rises are hitting pensioners harder every year. While the basic pension rarely goes up by more than inflation, council tax has rocketed under Labour.

"The poorest pensioners now pay far too much of their basic state pension on Council Tax. Unless action is taken this dreadful situation will get worse.

"I am now leading the Liberal Democrats' national campaign to scrap council tax. Pensioners would be amongst the first to benefit from our campaign for a fair tax, related to ability to pay.

"For pensioners and for the poorest in our society axing the tax is the only fair thing to do."