Colin Ross and the Liberal Democrats fight Labour and Tory tax bombshell

1.37.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 30th Mar 2005

Colin Ross, Robin and Lexi Lawrence campaign against the Council Tax bombshell

Council Tax payers in Wolverhampton could face significantly higher Council Tax bills as a result of the Government's plans to revalue all properties.

The tax up to now has relied on house price bands based on 1991 values. Now the Government - with Conservative support - is planning to revalue all home sin line with house price rises.

Revaluation is now complete in Wales, where one in three homes moved up at least one tax band - some bills will increase by 22%. Fewer than one in twelve homes went down. Revaluation in England is expected to start within the next year.

Council Tax was invented by the Conservatives. Both they and the Labour Party support Council Tax despite the fact it has risen by 7% per year on average and is very unfair.

Local Liberal Democrat campaigner Colin Ross said "Council Tax is an unfair tax designed to hit those on average and low income hardest. Instead of further unfairness through revaluation, we should scrap the tax and replace it with a fairer tax based on people's ability to pay."

Colin Ross further said "I'm amazed the Conservative and Labour parties Wolverhampton continue to support this system which is very unfair. Our Local Income Tax plans would be fair as you would pay according to your ability to pay and not the home you live in."