Labour Budget Rubs Pensioners Faces In The Mud

10.44.44am GMT Thu 25th Mar 2004

Liberal Democrat Prospective GLA Candidate, Dee Doocey

"Pensioners' protests have been brushed aside", claims Dee Doocey, Liberal Democrat GLA candidate for South West London, following last week's Budget Speech.

"Virtually every pensioner I have spoken with is struggling to pay higher than ever levels of council tax set by cash-strapped local councils. Gordon Brown had his chance to fix it, and he didn't bother. In fact, he has hidden away in the figures the fact that the situation is set to get worse as councils are 'expected' to raise council tax next year by three times the level of inflation - 7.5%! This means that a Band F taxpayer will be paying £1,959.87 in Hounslow, £2,079.25 in Richmond, and £2,031.39 in Kingston, if they are lucky and 'only' have an average increase."

"As to the £100 rebate for pensioners, this is just an insult. It only lasts one year, and will add to the already absurd cost of administration considerably. It is however, a clear admission that the council tax is unfair: so why doesn't Labour get rid of it?"

Dee concluded. "Real hardship is being caused by this unjust and out of date stealth tax. Many do without to pay it; others are forced into degrading form filling to claim means-tested benefits which belong in the 1930s. The Labour Party has betrayed an entire generation. The Liberal Democrats have a viable and fair alternative: a local income tax linked to people's ability to pay. Our pensioners shouldn't have to wait for it any longer."