Scrap Council Tax

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

21 September 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN UNSURPRISED BY GOVERNMENT U-TURN ON REVALUATION

Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair council tax protest group issued the following statement:

The Government's announcement to postpone the property revaluation and rebanding in England until after the next General Election comes as no surprise to the UK-wide IsitFair Campaign. The anger and opposition to revaluation and rebanding has been growing and reached breaking point when its effects were seen in Wales.

The Government is well aware of the hostility towards the present system of council tax, but how much longer are they willing to bury their heads in the sand and do nothing about it? How many more people have to be incarcerated in Category A prisons for 28 days for the crime of protesting about above-inflation increases in council tax? How many more vindictive prison sentences have to be handed out before the Government takes some meaningful action?

Council tax has doubled over the last 10 years and people on fixed or modest incomes are being required to pay a disproportionate amount of tax. Any increase in the value of their property has not magically generated additional income with which to pay ever-increasing council tax bills.

The Isitfair Campaign began in 2002 and has only one aim - to scrap council tax and replace it with a fairer system that takes account of everyone's ability to pay. It is not only an issue for pensioners, it's about getting a fairer system for everyone. The first essential step is to stop using property value as the basis for the tax.

The Government has wasted an estimated £60 Million on this aborted attempt at revaluation in England. It has been billed as a postponement, but there would be no reason whatsoever to revalue properties if the tax was related to people's income instead of being based on property value.

Unlike the Government, Isitfair will stay on its course. We will continue our campaign, we will not give in until the council tax system is completely reformed. There will be more Rev. Ridleys and more Sylvia Hardys and we will continue to embarrass the Government until progress is made. Council tax must be reformed and must take into account the ability to pay from income.

Although Isitfair does not encourage anyone to withhold their council tax, we will vigorously support any member who decides to do so.

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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 UK-wide, 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.

IsItFair is endorsed by The Royal British Legion.

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