Conservative Council Tax Shock

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 21st May 2004

Local Lib Dem campaigners fighting against the Council Tax

While the Lib Dems are campaigning hard to axe the Council Tax, the Conservatives want to DOUBLE IT.

Tory Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin has admitted that the Conservatives want to double the amount of money Councils raise locally. With their continued support for the Council Tax, this would mean a doubling of bills.

The Conservative plan has not gone down well with local voters.

Local campaigner Peter Carroll said, "Our own local MP Mr Howard helped invent the Council Tax when he was in power. Now we see that a future Conservative Government might double it."

Axe the Council Tax

The Lib Dem campaign to axe the Council Tax continues to grow in strength. Tens of thousands of people have signed a Lib Dem petition calling for the tax to go.

Hythe Lib Dem Councillor Neil Matthews said, "Council Tax is a very unfair tax because it bears no relation to ability to pay. We want to replace it with a local income tax where no one will pay more than they can afford."

Experts say that over two thirds of people would be better off under the Lib Dem system.