Leech opposes Death Tax

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Aug 2005

Manchester Withington Liberal Democrat MP John Leech has joined MPs of all parties in criticising a Government review on local taxation that suggests pensioners defer their Council Tax payments until they die.

The plan is being looked at in a Government-commissioned review of local taxation in England. The idea is that elderly people owning their own home could defer payment until after their death and their home is sold.

John Leech MP said, "You can imagine the grief that this will cause. Childrens' inheritance will be severely affected under any proposal of this kind and I think that it is unacceptable. The Government are losing the plot if they think this is the answer."

"I know that many Pensioners in South Manchester will be concerned about this proposal. We should not mortgage the future by postponing payment in this way, which will merely exacerbate the problem!"

This proposal has been slammed by MPs from all parties. John added, "Of course the Government should look at making local taxation better, but this "Death Tax" is fundamentally wrong. I think the answer to this problem is to scrap the unfair Council Tax system and replace it with a system link to the ability to pay."

Related Link:

Axe the Tax - the Campaign to replace Council Tax.