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

14 FEBRUARY 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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ISITFAIR COUNCIL TAX CAMPAIGN BENEFITS FROM TAXPAYERS' ALLIANCE BOOK

Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair Council Tax protest group, issued the following statement following last week's publication of "The Bumper Book of Government Waste" by the Taxpayers' Alliance.

"We are delighted that 10 pence will be donated to the Isitfair campaign for every copy sold. This will be a welcome boost to our funds, which until now has depended on the generosity of our supporters with donations of stamps and stationery. The Isitfair campaign is highlighted on the front cover of the book and I'm sure this will help to draw the attention of even more people to our campaign.

"The consequence of this Government's refusal to address the unfair nature of Council Tax has resulted in more and more people joining the Isitfair campaign. Our campaign has grown from a small action group in Hampshire in 2002 to an estimated 50,000 supporters across the UK.

"Council Tax has been used as a stealth tax. The Government are scared stiff of the political fallout that would come from a small increase in Income Tax but are more than happy to sit back and watch Council Tax bills going through the roof.

"Council Tax payers will soon be subjected to the latest in a long line of inflation-busting increases. Average increases from April 2006 are expected to be double the rate of inflation. Because the tax bears no relationship to people's income, those on fixed or modest incomes who are above the threshold for means-tested benefit will pay an even higher percentage of their income in Council Tax than they did last year. The people who are least able to afford it are paying the highest percentage in Council Tax, and this has got to be stopped. Isitfair continues to fight for Council Tax to be replaced by a system that takes account of everyone's ability to pay."

Anyone interested in joining the Isitfair campaign can find more information on the campaign's website at www.isitfair.co.uk

There is no charge for membership of the Isitfair campaign and all new members are welcome.

If you don't have access to the internet and you would like to receive the Isitfair campaign newsletter you can contact Christine by post at Isitfair Council Tax Campaign, Willow Cottage, Church Lane, Headley, Hampshire GU35 8PJ

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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

The Bumper Book of Government Waste - The scandal of the squandered billions from Lord Irvine's wallpaper to EU saunas, by Matthew Elliott & Lee Rotherham, published 7 February 2006

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