Axe The Council Tax

The Liberal Democrats are still the only party campaigning for abolition of Council Tax and its replacement by a local income tax based on ability to pay.

The Lib Dems believe that this is a fairer way for people to pay for the many services provided by councils and they have had enormous support for it across the country.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Dr Michael Heavens commented "The looming threat if council tax revaluation has been totally ignored, as Labour tries to hide unpleasant truths from voters. With council tax revaluation in Wales seeing 33% of homes rising one or more bands, it is clear why Ministers refuse to speak about it in England. House prices have rocketed in Epping Forest since the last revaluation in 1991. So, everyone knows that the next revaluation in 2007 will bring large tax hikes for millions."

Dr Heavens continued "The only way to protect people in fixed pensions and incomes from large local tax increases is to axe the Council Tax and replace it with a Local Income Tax based on a person's ability to pay. We say to the Government- the Council Tax was a hurried Tory invention to replace Michael Howard's hated Poll Tax and it is proved a total disaster."

Unlike the Lib Dems, neither Labour nor the Conservative Party have any plans to replace Council Tax.