Green Tax Switch Good News for South East (Sharon Bowles MEP)

Sharon Bowles MEP <info@sharonbowles.org.uk>

Green Tax Switch Good News for South East

October 23, 2006 12:00 AM

Green Tax Switch Campaign underway in Aldershot

Local MEP Sharon Bowles joined Aldershot Liberal Democrats, and hit the streets to promote the Party's new plans for a fairer, greener and simpler tax system.

She said: "These proposals would mean lower tax bills for most households in Aldershot, as well as tackling inequality and environmental damage."

The Liberal Democrat green switch would :

• Save a typical pensioner couple around £1,600 a year through proposals including scrapping council tax1

• Save a typical double-earning couple around £1,500 a year through measures including a 2p cut in the basic rate of income tax2

• Lift two million people on low income out of tax completely across Britain by reducing the 10p tax rate to zero

• Take 1.3 million people out of the top rate of income tax nationally by raising the threshold to £50,000 p.a.

Sharon Bowles said:

"The current system of taxation is not fair. The poorest 20% of households pay a bigger share of their income in tax than the richest 20%. Wealth inequality has actually risen since Labour came to power.

"These Liberal Democrat proposals will make the tax system fairer for those on low and middle incomes. Specifically this will benefit the vast majority of pensioners, key public sector workers and young professionals.

"These tax cuts for the majority will be paid for by the wealthy and those with environmentally damaging lifestyles, whilst rewarding those who act to protect our environment".

ENDS