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

4 January 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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UK COUNCIL TAX PROTEST TAKEN TO EU

On 17 January a leading UK Council Tax campaigner will present his case at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Tony Constable, a member of IsItFair, from Essex has been invited to a public hearing of his petition. He believes that various issues concerning UK Council Tax violate the Draft Treaty Establishing a Constitution For Europe.

Tony maintains that pensioners and the lower paid are being deprived of their savings by being made to pay disproportionately high amounts of Council Tax. He also states that the right of the elderly to lead a life of dignity and independence is violated by the ever-increasing reliance on means-tested benefits to compensate for unfair taxation.

Council Tax has more than doubled over the past ten years, rising at more than three times the rate of inflation. It has outstripped any rise in the income of most pensioners and the lower paid. Consequently many people are being forced to use their retirement savings to pay the relentless inflation-busting increases. Every year more people are being forced to apply for means-tested benefits, however those with modest savings are ineligible for Council Tax Benefit.

Christine Melsom, founder of the UK-wide IsItFair Campaign, said "Tony is a tireless campaigner against this grossly unfair tax.

"Our Government is well aware that Council Tax places an unacceptable burden on pensioners and lower paid workers. Unfortunately they are determined to try to sidestep the issue until after the general election. I hope that raising the issue in the European Parliament will make the Government take action to scrap Council Tax. The electorate are fed up with their empty promises.

"Council Tax has become the ultimate stealth tax - it must be scrapped and replaced by a tax related to people's income."

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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

Further details of Tony Constable's petition can be found at www.isitfair.co.uk/TonyConstable/TC_Page.htm

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.

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