council tax unfair to england

We are now in the council tax setting season and we will be lucky if the national average rise is around 4%. This will mean that the tax rise will be above the rate of inflation for the tenth successive year.

Since Tony Blair came to power in 1997 bills have gone up for English Band D properties by an average of 84% whereas those in Scotland by a mere 40%. This is effectively one of Gordon Brown’s stealth taxes. It is money taken away from England and used to provide a massive subsidy to Scotland.

This tax hits those on fixed incomes hardest. It is true Gordon Brown gave pensioners an extra £200 last year to help with paying the council tax – after all it was election year – but there is no commitment to pay it again – well, not until the next election is due, no doubt.

England needs its own Parliament like Scotland has to ensure that taxes paid in England are principally used to fund services in England.