Tuesday, April 19, 2005
The Lies told about the Lib Dems Local Income Tax
Today the Liberal Democrats have admitted that a couple on average earnings worse off under their plans for a Local Income Tax. All around the country the Liberals are telling the British people that they would axe the council tax while concealing the true cost of their plans. But this morning they have been forced to admit a couple on average earnings would have to pay more under their plans.
The Lib Dems’ plans say that the average national rate of local income tax under their plans would be 3.75p. For a couple on average earnings with a combined income of £41,000 this would mean an increase in income tax of £1,170. Compared to an average council tax per dwelling of £908 this would leave a couple on average earnings over £260 worse off under the Liberal plans. The Lib Dems have failed to admit that as they are opposed to capping, they would allow income tax to be set by councils and rise unchecked. The Liberal Democrats have also promised that they would publish a list by each local authority area on what the effects of their Local Income Tax policy would be. But they have failed to do so. What are they hiding and why won’t they allow people to see the real effects of their policy? The Lib Dems always fail to say that their plans would lead to huge increases for lower paid workers and those who do not pay any council tax at all, such as nurses in training.
It’s no surprise that their briefing note on this says that they ’don’t want to be drawn extensively into’ how much it will cost taxpayers. On this, as on so many things, their sums do not add up.
The Lib Dems’ plans say that the average national rate of local income tax under their plans would be 3.75p. For a couple on average earnings with a combined income of £41,000 this would mean an increase in income tax of £1,170. Compared to an average council tax per dwelling of £908 this would leave a couple on average earnings over £260 worse off under the Liberal plans. The Lib Dems have failed to admit that as they are opposed to capping, they would allow income tax to be set by councils and rise unchecked. The Liberal Democrats have also promised that they would publish a list by each local authority area on what the effects of their Local Income Tax policy would be. But they have failed to do so. What are they hiding and why won’t they allow people to see the real effects of their policy? The Lib Dems always fail to say that their plans would lead to huge increases for lower paid workers and those who do not pay any council tax at all, such as nurses in training.
It’s no surprise that their briefing note on this says that they ’don’t want to be drawn extensively into’ how much it will cost taxpayers. On this, as on so many things, their sums do not add up.
