Tories defend hated council tax

4.21.49pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Jun 2005

Tories on Oxfordshire County Council yesterday dumped investigations into a local tax which is more fair and efficient than the much hated Council Tax, now in crisis and under review by Blair's Government.

"The Council tax needs to be replaced. Oxfordshire residents pay 13% more Council Tax than is typical for England generally. Worse, after the proposed Council Tax revaluation, Oxfordshire is threatened with a whacking 9% more Council Tax just for the same services," said Cllr Jim Moley, Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet member for Finance.

"Oxfordshire's Tories promised local taxation which is lower, fairer and more efficient, but they oppose even investigating a Land Value Tax which offers all of these advantages and which operates successfully in Japan, Singapore, and some US states. Instead, they want to keep Mr Howard's unfair council tax, and to make it worse by delaying long overdue council tax revaluation. So much for their manifesto promises.

"Unfortunately, their backward, traditional reaction seems based on a misinformed defence of landed interests. Yet Land Value Tax is associated with smart, sustainable economic wealth because it encourages the development of derelict brownfield sites for housing and enterprise.

"I think the Government would welcome this research. It is in a mess on Council Tax and needs to get out of this hole, dug for them by Mr Howard." concluded Jim.

For more information please contact:

Cllr Jim Moley 01235 763301