A letter appeared in this weeks Southend Standard, I presume by a Lib Dem sympathizer, saying that the Lib Dems have been campaigning to removing the unfair Council Tax for sime time.
I agree that in some parts of the country council tax bills are going through the roof for some families. In the London Borough of Haringey, for example, my mum pays over £1,000 for living in a band B property. In Southend though we are blessed with one of the lowest council tax in England.
Political commentators have been exploring what could replace Council Tax for some years now. The Lib Dems have been campaigning for a Local Income Tax for the past few years.
When you actually look at the policy it actually punishes hard working families as this tax is based on the ability to pay. In many cases there are more than one person who works. If there is a family where both parents work then this family pays twice as both parents earning an income will have to pay.
If the Local Income Tax were to replace the Council Tax there is a danger that it could force even more hardpressed families to loose their homes in times when most families are struggling to make end meet.
Since Nick Clegg has become Lib Dem party leader he has looked to replace the more bizzare and unpopular policies, like banning the sale of goldfish at Fairgrounds (Yes it's true, this was Lib Dem policy not so long ago) for example. Maybe this is one that he needs to have a rethink on.
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