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

19 January 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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UPDATE - UK COUNCIL TAX PROTEST PRESENTED TO EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

On 17 January, leading UK Council Tax campaigners told MEP's that Council Tax, as a proportion of income, of many pensioners and the lower paid is causing social exclusion and violates the Constitution for Europe.

Tony Constable from Essex and Brian Jaye from Dorset, both members of the IsItFair Campaign, presented their case to the European Parliament in Brussels.

Their submissions received support from Committee members, in particular from MEP's representing Italy and Spain. The chairman of the Committee on Petitions, Marcin Libicki, directed that the UK Council Tax protest must now go forward to the Committee on Social Affairs.

This decision was taken despite attempts by UK MEP Michael Cashman to close the matter. In his opinion the UK Government's means-tested benefits provided an appropriate solution to the inherent flaws in the present system of Council Tax.

Commenting on the outcome, Christine Melsom, founder of the UK-wide IsItFair Campaign, said "This is a victory for common sense. We still have a long way to go, but we will succeed in getting Council Tax scrapped.

"Council Tax has more than doubled since 1995 but the Government insists that the present system based on property value is here to stay. Over the same period basic State pension has increased by 38%.

"Council Tax is a regressive tax - the less income you have, the higher the percentage of your income you have to pay in Council Tax. Many people now pay far more in Council Tax than they pay in Income Tax.

"This grossly unfair tax cannot be patched up by more and more means-tested benefits. It must be replaced by an income-related tax - this would spread the burden more fairly and would also put an end to any need for means testing.

"There is overwhelming support for our campaign and there is no doubt that Council Tax will be a key issue at the general election."

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NOTES TO EDITOR

Full details of the petition to the European Parliament can be found at www.isitfair.co.uk/TonyConstable/TC_Page.htm

IsItFair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the abolition of the existing property-value based system of Council Tax, and for its replacement by an income-related tax.

The campaign represents people of all age groups (not only pensioners) who are unfairly affected by Council Tax, and is endorsed by the Royal British Legion.

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