Press Release
RICHARD BURT
Parliamentary Candidate, West Worcestershire
Contact: 07970 713 032 Embargo: Immediate 16th July 2007
4p INCOME TAX CUT WOULD BE GREAT NEWS FOR PEOPLE OF WORCESTERSHIRE
West Worcestershire’s Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt has
today welcomed plans unveiled to reduce the basic rate of income tax to 16p, and
scrap the council tax, benefiting millions of people on low and middle incomes.
He said: "These proposals would mean lower tax bills for most households in
Worcestershire, as well as tackling inequality and environmental damage."
Proposals in the Liberal Democrat tax policy paper, 'Reducing the burden:
Policies for tax reform' would -
• Save a typical pensioner couple nearly £1,600 a year through proposals
including scrapping council tax1
• Save a typical double-earning couple around £1,000 a year through measures
including a 4p cut in the basic rate
of income tax2
• Remove tax loop-holes exploited by the super-rich
• Reform stamp duty to reduce the amount of tax paid on properties worth less
than £500,000
• Reform Inheritance Tax, with the aim of raising the starting threshold to
£500,000
Richard Burt said:
"The current system of taxation is not fair. The unacceptable reality is that in
Britain today the poorest pay a higher proportion of their income in tax than
the super-rich. Wealth inequality has actually risen since Labour came to power.
"Our new proposals will put fairness at the heart of the tax system. Low and
middle income earners in this country shoulder too heavy a tax burden.
"These tax cuts for the majority will be paid for by the wealthy and those with
environmentally damaging lifestyles.
"I look forward to supporting these proposals when they are debated and voted on
at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton in September."
ENDS
Footnotes
1 Figure based on a pensioner couple with a combined income of £15,000.
2 Figure based on a double-earning couple earning the national median household
income of £28,000.
For further information or comment, please contact Richard Burt on 07970 713032
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