High Peak Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Council leaders urge Chancellor to cut Income Tax for ordinary people

Liberal Democrat Council leaders from across the East Midlands and elsewhere have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne urging him to cut Income Tax for people on middle and low incomes as follows:-

Dear Chancellor,

We lead Liberal Democrat council groups across the country and are calling on you to listen to the Liberal Democrat call to raise the income tax threshold to £10,000 faster than originally planned.

Giving working people on lower incomes more support has to be a top priority. This will mean over two and a half million low wage earners across the country will not have to pay any income tax at all - and other lower earners will still get a substantial tax cut.

As councillors from across the country, we see and talk to these people every week. They are people like the working mum whose salary has not increased in recent years and is struggling with rising bills or the young person in his first job who is struggling to make ends meet, worried about unexpected bills and repairs.

We have heard many times about the need to make tough choices in these difficult times. One choice the government should make is to ensure the wealthy pay their fair share and speed up the plan for the burden to be lifted on the poorest.

This also means that if there is ever any reduction in the 50p top rate of income tax then new taxes that target the rich must be introduced so the wealthy pay their share

Liberal Democrat Council Leaders in the East Midlands who have signed this letter include:

Cllr Hilary Jones, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Derby City Council who said: "In these difficult times it is vital we give ordinary working people a tax cut. The Liberal Democrat policy of no tax on the first £10,000 people earn is at the heart of the Coalition Agreement

"Here in Derby we have frozen Council Tax because we realise how important it is to give people a tax break, I hope the government will help them further by fast-tracking this Income Tax cut."

Cllr Stuart Bray, the Liberal Democrat leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council said "Raising the tax threshold to £10,000 would take two and a half million wage earners across the country, and thousands here in Hinckly and Bosworth, out of Income Tax altogether. This would be a great way of both making work pay and helping people on lower incomes through these tough times.

"If we get a £10,000 Income Tax threshold it would mean a £60 a month tax cut for working people.

In Hinckley and Bosworth we have also frozen Council Tax and I hope the coalition will fast-track this Income Tax cut.

Also signed by 115 Liberal Democrat Council Leaders and Group Leaders from England, Scotland and Wales. The full list of signatories and can be found on the Local Government Association website:

Other signaturies from East Midlands

Michael Wyatt Liberal Democrat Group Leader, North West Leicestershire DC

Brendan Glynane Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Northamptonshire County Council

Mark Oxley Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Rutland Council

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