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

21 February 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[start of press release]

COUNCIL TAX CAMPAIGNERS DISAPPOINTED WITH TORY DISCOUNTS PLEDGE

IsItFair campaigners have expressed their disappointment with the Conservative Party's plan to offer Council Tax discounts to pensioners.

In the Tory plans, announced today, over-65 pensioner households will get a 50% reduction in their Council Tax, subject to a maximum of £500.

Christine Melsom, founder of the nationwide IsItFair Campaign, had this response on behalf of protesters across the U.K.

"We regard the Conservative Party proposal to offer discounts to pensioners as electioneering for the 'grey' vote. Whilst we are fully aware of the difficulties many pensioners face, and welcome any help for them, there are equally many hard working families who are also struggling under this unfair tax. What are the Conservatives going to do for them?

"In an interview today Party leader Mr. Howard stated that 'there's nothing wrong with Council Tax as a system', which is totally at odds with the view of the IsItFair Campaign. On the contrary, the present system is a grossly unfair tax for people of all ages, and the Conservatives have ignored the plight of many non-pensioners.

"Council Tax is a regressive tax whatever age you are - the less income you have, the higher the percentage of your income you have to pay in Council Tax. The first essential step must be to stop using property value as the basis for the tax. Fiddling around with discounts will not tackle the root cause of the problem.

"The IsItFair Campaign has always been for people of all ages, not only pensioners. We want a fair system for everyone that takes account of their ability to pay, and you will not achieve that by tinkering with the present system which is based on property values."

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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.

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