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Laws slams Government spending

From the Chard & Ilminster News, first published Wednesday 10th Oct 2007.

YEOVIL MP David Laws has slammed the Government for announcing plans in its spending review which will mean rises in Council Tax by as much as five per cent each year for the next three years.

The money allocated to Local Authorities will not increase at the same rate that it has previously, creating a funding gap which will leave local authorities with no option but to fill the void by raising Council Tax.

Mr Laws stormed: "The Government's announcement on the new spending allocation for local authorities is the meanest for ten years and leaves councils with little option but to increase Council Tax by as much as five per cent every year for the next three.

"This will mean that Council Tax will have more than doubled since Labour came to power.

"This unfair tax must be abolished and replaced with a tax based on an individual's ability to pay.

"The Government has ducked the tough choices which needed to be made on public spending, and the backdoor rise in Council Tax will hit many people very hard."

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