Cameron's Council Tax Cowardice
November 14, 2007 12:39 PM
Rugby and Warwickshier Council Candidates Campaiging to Axe the Unfair Tax
David Cameron has shattered any expectation that a Conservative Government would be a localising anti centrist party with today's announcement of his fudge on council tax.
This view, from Cllr Richard Kemp the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Local Government, was given by him today (13th November) at the annual Capital Conference of the Local Government Association.
Cllr Kemp said: "Instead of a crude local version of capping Cameron knows full well that his proposals mean a crude national capping regime. Whilst tax payers demand ever more plentiful and better services they will never vote the means to pay for them properly. This is particularly true when the biggest increases in spending are required for people like the elderly whose cause is often hidden from public view.
"This tax has been unfair and biased against the poor and elderly since it was foisted on us by a Tory Government retreating in panic from the debacle of the poll tax. Every year it becomes more unfair as Government and opposition vie with each other to delay much needed reforms and even to delay the principle of property value revaluation which was an intrinsic part of the Tory Act. There are two clear measures which will deal with the increasing problems of council tax unfairness:
The introduction of a local income tax which would be based on the ability to pay
The repatriation of the business rate to local government as it has now ceased to have local significance and is merely a tax collected locally for onward transmission to central government.
The only way to let people decide what is the right level of tax is being elections when they can choose to support or get rid of councilors who do not provide value for money"
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