Pensioners hit by Labour's £200 Council Tax bombshell

10.13.54pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 14th Apr 2006

Gordon Brown and his Bromley Borough councillors: letting down local pensioners

The Liberal Democrats have joined with pensioners' groups to condemn Gordon Brown's decision not to repeat the £200 Council Tax discount for pensioners.

Gordon Lishman, the Director General of Age Concern, said: "It beggars belief that the chancellor has denied pensioners any extra help with their council tax bills, just as a new round of bills is set to cause anxiety for millions."

Lib Dem leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, said that the rise in council tax bills combined with the government's decision not to renew the £200 rebate offered to pensioners last year means a 25% rise in council tax for the over-60s.

"Pensioners in that poverty trap face a huge increase, and that is Labour's gift to pensioners at this year's council elections," he said.

Sir Menzies accused the chancellor, Gordon Brown, of dropping the £200 pensioners' rebate from last month's budget because it had served its purpose as a "pre-election bribe" before the 2005 general election.

As pensioners across Bromley Borough struggle to pay Labour's tax on pensioners, Penge & Cator Lib Dem campaigner Emma Price said: "Local pensioners have been let down by Labour. They should send a message to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown by kicking out their local councillors here in the elections on 4th May"

Cray Valley West Lib Dem Harold Barker said: "I joined the Labour Party, and became a party officer because I thought it was a party that cared for the old and vulnerable. Not a party of pre-election bribes to pensioners, which are snatched away the following year."