LIB DEM TAX PACKAGE GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE OF MID SUSSEX

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson, Serena Tierney has welcomed plans unveiled today for a fairer, greener and simpler tax system.

She said: "These proposals would mean lower tax bills for most households in Mid Sussex, as well as tackling inequality and environmental damage."

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 tax1

• Save a typical double-earning couple around £1,500 a year through measures including a 2p cut in the basic rate of income tax2

• 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.

Serena Tierney 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, young professionals and key public sector workers.

"Here in Mid Sussex, these proposals will be a real help to the many families on middle incomes who are struggling to manage with the very high cost of housing in this area.

"These tax cuts for the majority will be paid for by the very wealthy and those with environmentally damaging lifestyles.

"I look forward to debating and voting on these proposals at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton in September."

Notes

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

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