Scrap Council Tax says Chris Maines

4.44.55pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 3rd Dec 2003

Bromley Liberal Democrats want to see the Council Tax abolished

Liberal Democrats on Bromley Council proposed a motion to the full council on Monday calling for council tax to be scrapped and replaced with a local income tax. Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr. Chris Maines said 'Liberal Democrats believe that Council Tax is an unfair tax. It is a tax which hurts pensioners and those on low incomes.'

The Liberal Democrats favour a local income tax based upon ability to pay, which would also be cheaper to collect.

At full council on Monday, both Labour and the Conservatives condemned the council tax, but refused to outline their own solution to replace it. The motion finally passed with a Tory amendment removing references to a local income tax.

'This is typical of Bromley Tories - quick to criticise, but visionless - unable or unwilling to put forward their own proposals to improve matters. The council's tiny Labour group proved themselves as irrelevant as ever' commented Cllr. Maines

More information on the Lib Dem campaign to Axe the Tax can be found at http://www.axethetax.org.uk