Join in 'axe the tax' competition - Howarth

4.06.26pm GMT Wed 2nd Aug 2006

Cambridge MP, David Howarth, is encouraging Cambridge residents to take part in a competition to find the person who pays the highest proportion of their income in Council Tax.

The competition was launched by the Liberal Democrats today to highlight to campaign 'Axe the Tax' to replace Council tax with a fairer alternative based on people's ability to pay.

Commenting on the competition, Mr. Howarth said;

"This competition is a light-hearted way to draw attention to what is a really serious problem. I have spoken to people in Cambridge on incomes of only £10,000 per year who are paying over £1000 in Council Tax. That's 10% of their total income.

David Howarth MP

"The Council Tax is extremely unfair, and hits those on fixed incomes, like pensioners, the hardest. Replacing the Council Tax with a local income tax would mean that those who can least afford to pay, pay the least. Those who don't pay income tax now would pay nothing under our new system."

If you believe that you are paying too high a percentage of your income in Council Tax, send details to the Lib Dem's Local Government Spokesperson:

Tom Brake MP

House of Commons

London

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