19th August 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Isitfair COUNCIL TAX PROTEST GROUP COMMENTS ON THE GOVERNMENT,S SO CALLED DEATH TAX

Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair Council Tax protest group issued the following statement: 

The Government’s leaked idea for a deferred council tax, commonly and aptly christened a ‘death tax’, is another form of legalised theft of property and savings. Make no mistake, a charge would be put on your property and a very
big bill would accrue. High compound interest rates and expenses could take a very large chunk out of your estate. £76,000 on an average band D property over twenty years. Live longer and they could take the lot.

The idea is "Out of sight, out of mind". We have no doubt whatsoever that many elderly people will not understand what they are signing up to. And what a wonderful opportunity for councils to raise taxes safe in the knowledge that the elderly will not appreciate what is going on because they will feel no pain, because only the next generation will be affected. There would be no accountability in effect and it is an extremely sly and deceitful idea. 

Sweeping tax rises under the carpet is what this Government has practised ever since it came to office. This is what they did with private pensions.  They removed the tax waivers on pension plan dividends knowing that no one
would notice until retirement by which time it would be too late. As a result, millions of people will now receive much smaller pensions than they calculated when they started their plans and most of them do not find out until they retire. 

Classic back door taxation in both cases.

This Government is very keen to test the responses to leaked possibilities from the Sir Michael Lyons report due in December. A report that he admits is one made to fit the Government’s remit. It must be aware that the Council
Taxpaying sector of the population has been subjected to inflation busting rises in their bills. With more heavy rises in 2005/2006 and the threat of re-banding/revaluation in 2007/2008, more and more are being pushed into the council tax benefit system.

It must be aware of the gathering unrest across the country. Aware that many people are proud of the fact that they have provided for their own future. Those coming up to retirement will also be looking at a bleak retirement, and those planning for that time will look and think what mugs we are. Mugs to even try to provide for the future, when there is a
Government that will continually knock them back and take what little they have.

"The Isitfair Campaign wants Council Tax scrapped and replaced by a fairer system that takes account of everyone's ability to pay. It is not only an issue for pensioners; it's about getting a fairer system for everyone. The first essential step is to stop using property value as the basis for the tax.

"Politicians should be giving us less spin and more facts." 

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