Lib Dem tax package would be good news for people of Hounslow

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Aug 2006

Andrew Dakers (left) and Satnam Kaur Khalsa (Right) together with Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable (centre) welcome the plans published by the Liberal Democrat Tax Commission.

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokespersons Satnam Kaur Khalsa (Feltham & Heston) and Cllr Andrew Dakers (Brentford & Isleworth) have welcomed plans unveiled today for a fairer, greener and simpler tax system.

Cllr Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth, said:

"These proposals would mean lower tax bills for most households in Brentford & Isleworth, as well as tackling inequality and environmental damage.

"I look forward to supporting these proposals when they are debated and voted on at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton in September."

The proposals published today by the Liberal Democrat Tax Commission would:

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

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

• 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.

Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Feltham & Heston, 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."

*Figure based on a pensioner couple with a combined income of £15,000.

** Figure based on a double-earning couple earning the national median household income of £25,000.

Related Links:

Calculations on benefits and costings for Lib Dem tax proposals

Liberal Democrats publish plans for fairer and greener taxes

BBC News: Lib Dems plan exemptions on tax