Addressing the CIPFA conference today in Brighton following reports that the Government are likely to rule out introducing local income tax to replace the council tax in its Balance of Funding Review, Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats will say:
"The scrapping of the Council Tax and its replacement with a fair local income tax based on ability to pay would significantly contribute to local authority accountability and address the fundamental flaws in the Council Tax system. It would stop the poor paying more for their local services, as is the case under the Council Tax.
"The sticking plaster approach adopted by this Government to fundamental issues of reform will leave no-one satisfied.
"If Labour thinks that after 7 years of Council Tax rises, that they can prevaricate over reform, they are sorely mistaken. The campaign to scrap the Council Tax will only gather pace, and Labour will be punished at the ballot box.
"People know the Council Tax is unfair and they won't wear it much longer."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
CIPFA: Chartered Institute of Public finance and Accountancy
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