Residents back 'Axe the tax' campaign

12.17.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 4th Jul 2005

Pensioners will be big winners under the Lib Dems

"Independent figures show that 84% of pensioners and many local families will be better off under Local Income Tax - which is why local people have flocked to sign our local 'Axe the Tax' petition when we have been out and about in recent weeks" says Councillor Mark Hunter, Leader of the local Council and Liberal Democrat Candidate for the Cheadle by-election.

Mark added "Most local people would be better off or unaffected if Council Tax is axed and replaced with a fairer system in our area. Many local people have told me that they have been shocked by Tory tax scares. One thing that is clear is that the Tories are plummeting to new depths in this campaign."

Recent Conservative leaflets have veered wildly from £610 to £1,222 in their estimates of the effects of LIT on local residents. These figures fly in the face of the expert opinion of the independent Institute of Fiscal Studies which has calculated that nearly 75% of all local taxpayers will pay less or the same under Local Income Tax.

Mark Hunter has had detailed discussions with Liberal Democrat Shadow Spokesperson for Local Government Sarah Teather MP about the benefits of the fairer Local Income Tax for local people.

Mark said "I have taken the concerns of local people about Council Tax to the top and will work with Sarah and other Liberal Democrat colleagues to axe this unfair tax. The Tories now claim to be in favour of Council Tax but against the revaluation. It is clear to many local people that the only way to get rid of the Council Tax for good is to vote for the Liberal Democrats in the Cheadle By-election and send a message loudly and clearly to Westminster!"