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 CAMPAIGNERS WELCOME THIS BILL

A Bill to abolish Council Tax and replace it with a local tax based on income was put before the Scottish Parliament on 11 November.

Christine Melsom, founder of the nationwide IsItFair Campaign, welcomed the news and also had a few words of advice for politicians in England and Wales.

Christine said, "I am delighted that this issue is now being taken seriously in Scotland. Unfortunately, in England and Wales politicians seem determined to bury their heads in the sand and hope that the public outcry will disappear."

"Westminster politicians have been deliberating on the Council Tax issue for the past two years. The long awaited outcome of their enquiry was that Council Tax should be retained but reformed, and they announced yet another enquiry to examine the detail. This is a deliberate delaying tactic so that the issue is sidelined until after the general election."

"This protest is growing by the day. Young and old alike are outraged by the relentless rises in Council Tax. The people least able to afford it pay the highest percentage of their income in Council Tax, and they will not be fooled by empty promises to improve the existing system. This is a grossly unfair tax based on property value - it must be scrapped and replaced by a system that takes account of people's ability to pay."

"The recent overwhelming defeat of the Government's proposals for an elected regional assembly for North East England demonstrates just how far out of touch with public opinion our politicians can be."

Christine believes that time is running out for politicians in England and Wales and has this advice for them.

"You have failed to understand the extent of people's anger about Council Tax. It will be a big issue at the general election and just tinkering with the existing system is not acceptable - it must be scrapped. In the meantime, for as long as we have to live with the present system you should forget about any further inflation-busting hikes - next year's increase must not exceed the rate of inflation. Council Tax has increased by over 70% since 1997 and you cannot continue to demand massive increases year after year. We are fed up with all the excuses. We want a system that takes account of people's ability to pay and spreads the burden of local taxation more fairly. WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH !"

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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.

The campaign represents people of all age groups (not only pensioners) who are unfairly affected by Council Tax.

Details of the Council Tax Abolition and Service Tax Introduction (Scotland) Bill can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsInProgress/councilTax.htm

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