Lyons report shows council tax remains unfair

6.03.51pm GMT Thu 15th Dec 2005

Commenting on the Lyons report on local government reform, Liberal Democrat local government spokesperson, Sarah Teather MP, said:

"Lyons' research shows that no amount of tinkering with council tax - extra bands, revaluation or discounts - will make it fair.

"The very nature of council tax means it will always be more of a burden on pensioners and the low paid. The polling and focus groups mentioned in this report show that only a tax based on income will be considered fair by the British public.

"As Lyons' work progresses, we will continue to press him and the government to scrap Council Tax and replace it with a fair Local Income Tax."

On p 17 of the report, Lyons says: 'The public attitudes analysis I undertook suggested that participants thought that linking tax liability to individual ability to pay was seen to be the fairest form of taxation.'