Plea for Fair Tax goes to Parliament

5.24.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Oct 2005

Angry residents of Bredbury Green have taken their fight for the abolition of the unfair Council Tax to Parliament with a petition, presented to the House of Commons last night by Andrew Stunell MP.

Hazel Grove MP, Andrew Stunell told Parliament:

"I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of my constituents. It contains 228 signatures from the Bredbury Green area of my constituency. Bredbury Green has a high proportion of pensioners, the most vulnerable group under the current inequitable system of local government finance."

The petition declares that:

"The year-on-year above-inflation increases in Council Tax are causing hardship to many and take no account of ability to pay; further that the proposed property revaluation and re-banding exercise will make an already flawed system even worse.

"The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons vote to replace Council Tax with a fair and equitable tax that, without recourse to any supplementary benefit, takes into account ability to pay from disposable income. Such tax to be based on a system that is free from any geographically or politically motivated discrimination, and that clearly identifies the fiscal and managerial responsibilities of all involved parties."

Speaking later, Mr Stunell added:

"Council tax is unfair and unpopular. Many pensioners are forced out of their homes and communities as they can not afford to pay the rates. The Government needs to start listening to the growing numbers of people who want and need to see an end to the unfair council tax." ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. For further comment from Andrew Stunell MP, please contact Jane Allen on 0207 2195223.

2. More details about the Is It Fair? Campaign can be found at http://www.isitfair.co.uk/

3. The text of the presentation of the petition to Parliament can be obtained from the Hansard website: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm051024/debtext/51024-41.htm#51024-41_spnew1