Isitfair Campaign Information and Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN FOR THE REFORM OF COUNCIL TAX

For further press information please contact: Christine Melsom on 01428-712680 or E-mail c@Isitfair.co.uk

28 March 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[start of press release]

ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN TELLS MPs TO GET THEIR HEADS OUT OF THE SAND

Local Government Minister John Healey this week announced "the lowest increase in council tax for 14 years".

Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair council tax protest group, issued the following statement.

"To boast about an average 4% increase when inflation is 2.5% shows how out of touch with the real world these people are.

"This is the latest in a long line of inflation-busting increases. Council tax bills have more than doubled since 1997 and in the last few years we have also seen cuts in many council services which is adding insult to injury. Council tax payers continue to be regarded as an easy target with no end in sight for these annual above-inflation tax hikes.

"It will not have escaped the notice of Westminster politicians that Council tax in Scotland has been frozen at last year's level. If it is possible to freeze council tax in Scotland and to eventually replace it by a fairer system of taxation then why can't the same happen in England and Wales?

"Council tax has become the Rip Off Tax - in return for the latest inflation-busting increase we get less service. This ridiculous trend cannot be allowed to continue - council tax reform is long overdue and Westminster politicians cannot expect to be able to continue burying their heads in the sand for much longer.

"Wake up in Westminster - the next general election is only a couple of years away!"

[end of press release]


For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on 01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk

Issued by Isitfair Campaign, Headley, Hampshire GU35 8PJ


NOTES TO EDITOR

Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the existing property-value based system of Council Tax.

Isitfair wants a fairer system of taxation for local services that is related to everyone's ability to pay.

Isitfair represents people of all age groups (not only pensioners) who are unfairly affected by Council Tax.

You can find more information about the Isitfair campaign at www.isitfair.co.uk

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28 February 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[start of press release]

ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN SAYS COUNCIL TAX PAYERS ARE BEING MUGGED YET AGAIN

Council tax payers in England and Wales are faced with the latest in a long line of inflation-busting increases, according to a survey published today by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair council tax protest group, issued the following statement.

"From April 2008 increases for council tax payers in the South East (4.4%) and South West (4.5%) are expected to be twice the current rate of inflation. The average increase is expected to be 3.9% for the rest of England and 4.1% for Wales.

But council tax in Scotland has been frozen at last year's level - if it is possible to freeze council tax in Scotland and to eventually replace it by a fairer system of taxation then why can't the same happen in England and Wales?

Council tax payers are being mugged yet again. This tax has more than doubled since 1997 and an ever-increasing tax burden is being put on council tax payers. This issue is no longer only a matter of how much council tax goes up, because at the same time services are now being cut. Every year we pay significantly more tax and in return we are forced to accept cutbacks in services. This cannot be allowed to continue.

Isitfair will continue to campaign for this unfair tax to be reformed in England and Wales. If our existing politicians continue to refuse to listen to reason on the subject of council tax reform then they should not be surprised when the electorate votes for candidates who will."

[end of press release]


For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on 01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk

Issued by Isitfair Campaign, Headley, Hampshire GU35 8PJ


NOTES TO EDITOR

Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the
existing property-value based system of Council Tax.

Isitfair wants a fairer system of taxation for local services that is
related to everyone's ability to pay.

Isitfair represents people of all age groups (not only pensioners) who are
unfairly affected by Council Tax.

You can find more information about the Isitfair campaign at
www.isitfair.co.uk

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21 February 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[start of press release]

ITFAIR CAMPAIGN REACTS ANGRILY TO LATEST JAIL SENTENCEIS

Richard Fitzmaurice, a 76 year old ex-serviceman from Heacham, Norfolk, has been sentenced to 34 days in jail for withholding payment of council tax in protest at the unfairness of the tax.

Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair council tax protest group, issued the following statement.

"I was shocked to see the photographs in the press of a handcuffed Richard Fitzmaurice, a supporter of the Isitfair campaign, being taken off to jail for 34 days. His family are shattered at the sentence dished out, but they are supportive of Richard’s stance.

Richard has been down every avenue in his attempt to discuss the vagaries of the council tax system.  No one was prepared to listen to him.  This is the only way that he feels that he might get a hearing.

I would imagine there is much wringing of hands in Westminster.  The picture of a 76 year old ex-soldier in handcuffs and treated like some lawless criminal should bring home something to them.  I'm not sure what, not sure if they even have hearts but someone might be stirred.  These pictures will have been seen on news media all around the world and we should be ashamed that this can be allowed to happen.

In a glib statement the Head of Revenues at West Norfolk Council said that 'Mr Fitzmaurice has chosen to pursue the matter in this manner, rather than settle his liability and raise his issues through legitimate methods.'

Perhaps it has gone unnoticed that thousands of people have been trying to raise the issue of unfair council tax for the past five years through these so-called legitimate methods.  No-one appears to be listening!

Council tax is a disproportionate tax on thousands of people who have to exist on fixed or modest incomes.  The punishment meted out to anyone who feels compelled to make a principled stand against this unfair tax is similarly disproportionate.

I know I am dreaming but the dreams I have are of a much better world for all.  It cannot be right to see this man in jail when people committing heinous crimes still walk free.

There is no shortage of prison cells when it comes to dealing with people who protest against the unfair nature of council tax.  We will not be beaten into submission - this cannot be allowed to go on.  A fairer system of taxation for local services is required as a matter of urgency."

[end of press release]


For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on
01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk
 

Issued by Isitfair Campaign, Headley, Hampshire GU35 8PJ


NOTES TO EDITOR

Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the
existing property-value based system of Council Tax.

Isitfair wants a fairer system of taxation for local services that is
related to everyone's ability to pay.

Isitfair represents people of all age groups (not only pensioners) who are
unfairly affected by Council Tax.

You can find more information about the Isitfair campaign at
www.isitfair.co.uk

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22 January 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[start of press release]

ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN SAYS COUNCILS WANT TO HAVE THEIR CAKE AND EAT IT

The Audit Commission today published a report entitled 'Positively charged
- maximising the benefits of local public service charges'. It shows that
a quarter of local councils now raise more money from their direct charges
for services than they levy in council tax.

Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair council tax protest group,
issued the following statement in response to the report.

"My first reaction to the Audit Commission's report was that it could have
been called 'Positively OVERcharged', a phrase which sums up the raw deal
that is being dished out to council tax payers. But seriously, this report
is further evidence of councils' insatiable thirst for our money.

Last year (2006/7) council tax in England raised £22.4 Billion - and on
top of this councils raised a further £10.8 Billion from fees and charges.
The Audit Commission's report is an open invitation for the Government to
encourage councils to be more aggressive in their approach to levying
direct charges.

In services where there is a free market, e.g. care of the elderly,
council income from charges has fallen since 2001. On the contrary the
greatest increase was in services where councils have a near monopoly,
e.g. car parking. Isitfair is concerned that the general tone of the
report is to encourage further hikes in charges, and we expect this to be
most evident in services where councils have least competition.

Isitfair hopes this will prove to be a further nail in the coffin for
council tax. Council tax payers have had enough - the Government is giving
the councils carte blanche to have their cake and eat it. We get
relentless inflation-busting increases in our annual council tax bills and
now we have to brace ourselves for further hikes in direct charges for
council services, many of which used to be funded from council tax.

Isitfair will continue to campaign for a fairer system of taxation to fund
local services. The present system of council tax bears no direct
relationship to people's income and has become an unacceptable burden for
many thousands of us."

[end of press release]


For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on
01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk
 

Issued by Isitfair Campaign, Headley, Hampshire GU35 8PJ


NOTES TO EDITOR

Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the
existing property-value based system of Council Tax.

Isitfair wants a fairer system of taxation for local services that is
related to everyone's ability to pay.

Isitfair represents people of all age groups (not only pensioners) who are
unfairly affected by Council Tax.

You can find more information about the Isitfair campaign at
www.isitfair.co.uk

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27 August 2007

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

[start of press release]

 

   ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN SAYS NO TO PAY AS YOU THROW  

 

Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair Council Tax protest group, issued the following statement in response to the Local Government Association's 'pay as you throw' proposals.

"Council Tax payers will be stitched up yet again - why should the cost of rubbish collection and disposal fall only on Council Tax payers? After all, everyone produces rubbish and everyone should pay for its disposal - what incentive will there be for the people who pay nothing for refuse disposal to recycle more?

We believe that waste collection and disposal should be a national scheme and funded from cental taxation. At present the total cost of waste collection and disposal is typically one twelfth of our Council Tax, i.e about £110 a year per household for Band D in England, and this also includes the cost of all recycling services and local 'tips'. Are we supposed to believe that a separate 'pay as you throw' charge would be a better deal for Council Tax payers?

There has been no mention of the substantial additional costs for the proposed PAYT schemes - the extra staff in every local council to administer this latest tax-raising scam, also the added cost of cleaning up after the inevitable increase in fly-tipping. These further costs will have to be met by Council Tax payers.

Fortnightly rubbish collections have already been introduced by nearly half of our Councils. We have been obliged to accept less service without any consequent reduction in the tax we pay. PAYT will be a further stealth tax on Council Tax payers.

We do not accept that two thirds of Council Tax payers would be in favour of these schemes, as claimed by the LGA, if they were given the full facts.

Isitfair believes that the PAYT proposals are misguided and will be the cause of further additional cost to Council Tax payers - everyone produces rubbish and everyone should pay for its disposal."

 

Isitfair wants a solution to this unfair system of taxation. We waited three years for the Lyons Inquiry report which had promised a lot but delivered no radical recommendations. We're tired of all the excuses, empty promises and delaying tactics from our elected representatives. We expect Mr. Brown to recognise the extent to which this unfair tax is affecting the lives of many thousands of people, young and old, and make serious progress towards finding a solution that takes account of people's ability to pay.

 

Action is long overdue. The Council Tax issue must be dealt with, and now."

 

[end of press release]

For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on 01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk

 

Issued by Isitfair Campaign, Headley, Hampshire GU35 8PJ

  

NOTES TO EDITOR

Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the existing property-value based system of Council Tax.
 

Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the existing property-value based system of Council Tax.

 

Isitfair wants a fairer system of taxation for local services that is related to everyone's ability to pay and represents people of all age groups (not only pensioners) who are unfairly affected by Council Tax.

 

You can find more information about the Isitfair campaign at www.isitfair.co.uk

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26 June 2007

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

[start of press release]

 

   ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN ASKS FOR A FAIR HEARING FROM GORDON BROWN  

 

Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair Council Tax protest group, issued the following statement  statement on the need for the incoming Prime Minister to deal with the issue of unfair Council Tax.

 

"We have been badly let down by this Government. We note that Mr. Brown has said that he will listen to people's concerns and we expect the issue of unfair Council Tax to now be given a fair hearing. I recall that Mr. Blair went through his own 'listening' and 'fairness' phases but he never applied these principles to Council Tax.

 

The recent publication of Council Tax data by the Halifax once again highlights the outrageous increases across the U.K. since 1997. These figures are the proof of what we have been saying for years, that many residents in our country are deliberately being made victims of adverse discrimination for no other reason than where they happen to live. Council tax has now become a geographical lottery. The hardest hit of all are the many pensioners and others on low or modest incomes who do not receive Council Tax benefit and happen to live in the parts of this country that the Government considers wealthy and least deserving of Government grant. For these households Council Tax is a ridiculously high percentage of their income. Conversely, for households with the highest incomes Council Tax may be of little interest or concern because it takes a tiny percentage of their income.

 

The present Government has presided over an average 91% increase in Council Tax since 1997. We've had an inflation-busting increase every year since 1997 and at the same time services have been cut. Many services that were previously provided without charge are now means-tested. In addition we now face the prospect of additional taxes for services that are already paid for by our Council Tax. We keep paying more tax and get less service in return. This cannot be allowed to continue.

 
The Government dictates the vast majority of local council spending but then attempts to distance itself from the relentless tax increases. Their well-worn excuse is 'don't blame us, blame your local council'. Local councils then blame the Government for grant settlements which force them to charge more Council Tax. And so, year after year, the blame game goes on and Council Tax payers are obliged to foot the bill.

 

The Government must get their heads out of the sand and start to listen to the electorate. They know that the present system of Council Tax is unfair but persist with patching up the system and handing out billions of pounds in means-tested benefits instead of formulating a long-term solution. They know it doesn't work but, as yet, it hasn't caused them any damage at parliamentary elections in England. However, it will not have escaped the attention of Westminster MP's that Council Tax was a key issue at the elections for the Scottish parliament.

 

Isitfair wants a solution to this unfair system of taxation. We waited three years for the Lyons Inquiry report which had promised a lot but delivered no radical recommendations. We're tired of all the excuses, empty promises and delaying tactics from our elected representatives. We expect Mr. Brown to recognise the extent to which this unfair tax is affecting the lives of many thousands of people, young and old, and make serious progress towards finding a solution that takes account of people's ability to pay.

 

Action is long overdue. The Council Tax issue must be dealt with, and now."

 

[end of press release]

For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on 01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk

 

Issued by Isitfair Campaign, Headley, Hampshire GU35 8PJ

  

NOTES TO EDITOR

Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the existing property-value based system of Council Tax.
 

Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the existing property-value based system of Council Tax.

 

Isitfair wants a fairer system of taxation for local services that is related to everyone's ability to pay and represents people of all age groups (not only pensioners) who are unfairly affected by Council Tax.

 

You can find more information about the Isitfair campaign at www.isitfair.co.uk

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7 May 2007

[start of press release]

 

   ISITFAIR CAMPAIGN SAYS ACTION IS LONG OVERDUE  

  

Christine Melsom, founder of the Isitfair Council Tax protest group, issued the following statement following the elections on 3 May.

 

"We welcome the many new councillors in local government across the country following last week's elections, and they will be well aware that Council Tax is a hot issue for many of the people who elected them. It is obvious from the results that the public are disenamoured with the Government's performance.

 

The present Government has presided over a 91% increase in Council Tax since 1997. We've had an inflation-busting increase every year since 1997 and at the same time services have been cut. Many services that were previously provided without charge are now means-tested. In addition we now face the prospect of additional taxes for services that are already paid for by our Council Tax. We keep paying more tax and get less service in return. Local councils must realise that this cannot be allowed to continue.

 

The Government dictates the vast majority of local council spending but then attempts to distance itself from the relentless tax increases. Their well-worn excuse is 'don't blame us, blame your local council'. Local councils then blame the Government for grant settlements which force them to charge more Council Tax. And so, year after year, the blame game goes on and Council Tax payers are obliged to foot the bill.

 

The Local Government Association must now apply more pressure on the Government to alleviate this ever-increasing Council Tax burden. Local councillors should be representing the people who elected them and we expect them to stand up to continued Government interference in local authority affairs.

 

The Government, for their part, must get their heads out of the sand and start to listen to the electorate. They know that the present system of Council Tax is unfair but persist with patching up the system and handing out billions of pounds in means-tested benefits instead of formulating a long-term solution. They know it doesn't work but, as yet, it hasn't caused them any damage at parliamentary elections in England. However, it will not have escaped the attention of Westminster MP's that Council Tax was a key issue at the elections for the Scottish parliament.

 

The big stick comes out whenever there are protests against the unfairness of this tax. Everyone is aware that our prisons are overcrowded but there always seems to be enough space to accommodate a Council Tax protester for 30 days should they dare to challenge the unfairness of the present system.

 

Isitfair calls on local and central government to find a solution to this unfair system of taxation. We waited three years for the Lyons Inquiry report which had promised a lot but delivered no radical recommendations. We're tired of all the excuses, empty promises and delaying tactics from our elected representatives. We expect last week's successful candidates to recognise the extent to which this unfair tax is affecting the lives of many of their constituents and make some progress towards finding a solution.

 

Action is long overdue. The Council Tax issue must be dealt with, and now."

 

[end of press release]

 

For further press information, please contact: Christine Melsom on 01428-712680 or E-mail c@isitfair.co.uk

 

Issued by Isitfair Campaign, Headley, Hampshire GU35 8PJ

  

NOTES TO EDITOR

Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the existing property-value based system of Council Tax.
 

Isitfair is a UK-wide, non party-political campaign for the reform of the existing property-value based system of Council Tax.

 

Isitfair wants a fairer system of taxation for local services that is related to everyone's ability to pay and represents people of all age groups (not only pensioners) who are unfairly affected by Council Tax.

 

You can find more information about the Isitfair campaign at www.isitfair.co.uk

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