Scrap Council Tax

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN FOR THE REFORM OF COUNCIL TAX
For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on 01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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COUNCIL TAX PROTEST MARCH IN LONDON ON 2nd OCTOBER

The IsItFair Campaign for the Reform of Council Tax has organised a protest march in London on Saturday 2nd October.

Christine Melsom, IsItFair campaign founder, hopes that many thousands will join with IIF campaigners from all parts of the country who will be meeting at Whitehall Place at 12 noon. The march will start at 1300hrs and proceed along Victoria Embankment to Whitehall after which a petition will be presented at 10 Downing Street.

Christine said "This protest is about our grossly unfair system of Council Tax, and I hope that everyone who feels strongly about the unfairness of the present system will attend this march. We want a fair system of raising tax to fund local services - the existing system of Council Tax takes no account of people's ability to pay and it must be scrapped. People on fixed or low incomes are being forced to pay ever-increasing percentages of their income in Council Tax. Over the past 7 years Council Tax has increased by over 70% and State pensions have increased by 27%. Every year many people's disposable income goes DOWN because any small rise in their income is nowhere near enough to cover the latest inflation-busting increase in their Council Tax."

Christine emphasises that it is not only pensioners who are protesting. "There is a mistaken belief that our campaign is just about pensioners. Nearly half of IsItFair campaign supporters are under pension age. Council Tax is a regressive tax - the people least able to pay are hit hardest. It is well known that many pensioners are badly affected, but there are also many thousands of younger people who are similarly disadvantaged by this unfair tax.

"Many people with low incomes are paying an extortionate percentage of their income in Council Tax. How can it be fair that the people who are least able to pay are subjected to the highest percentage in tax - it's crazy! We will not accept any more inflation-busting increases and we've had enough dithering and empty promises from politicians - we want action to address this problem NOW."

Christine wants as many people as possible to show their support for the campaign and said "There is now fierce opposition to Council Tax throughout the country. The march on 2nd October is for everyone - come and join us and make your feelings known. Make a note of the date in your diary and I look forward to seeing you there."

Further details of arrangements for the march can be found at www.isitfair.co.uk

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For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on 01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk

Issued by IsItFair Campaign, Headley, Hampshire GU35 8PJ

NOTES TO EDITOR

IsItFair is a nationwide, non party-political campaign for the abolition of the existing property-value based system of Council Tax, and for its replacement by a fairer system based on individual ability to pay.

IsItFair's proposal "Local Authority Funding - A Fairer Tax Raising System" can be viewed and downloaded from www.isitfair.co.uk

The campaign is for everyone unfairly affected by council tax, not just for pensioners and those on fixed incomes.

You can find more information about the IsItFair campaign at www.isitfair.co.uk