Over 9,000 Local Households Struggle to Pay their Council Tax

9.48.18am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 29th Sep 2006

Today the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published a report revealing that around 9,000 households in Stockport are struggling to keep up with their Council Tax payments. The figure nationally is 2 million households.

Commenting on the report, Hazel Grove MP and Liberal Democrat Communities and Local Government Spokesperson, Andrew Stunell said:

"This comes as no surprise. The Council Tax is the most unfair tax of all. People who earn the least spend three times as much of their income on their Council Tax as the highest earners.

"Worryingly, the report shows that the existing complex Council Tax Benefit scheme is doing little to help those in greatest need. No wonder a third of those eligible for the benefit do not claim.

"Council Tax should be scrapped and replaced with a local tax based on people's ability to pay. This would be sweep away the costly council tax and benefit administrative systems and be fairer for everyone."

Over the summer, the Andrew Stunell has been running a campaign to scrap the Council Tax. For more information and to sign the on-line petition, go to www.andrewstunell.org.uk.

ENDS