Radical tax plans get local backing

10.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 19th Sep 2006

The Liberal Democrat conference today passed radical new tax policies that would see thousands of residents in Greenwich better off says local party finance spokesperson Mark Pattenden.

Under a Lib Dem budget, two million low paid workers would no longer pay any tax at all and the basic rate of income tax would be cut by 2% to 20%. There would also be a significant tax cut for those on middle incomes by increasing the threshold for higher rate tax to £50,000.

Local campaigner Mark Pattenden, a chartered accountant, said that "these proposals help to redress the balance in the tax system. At the moment, those at the bottom on low incomes are paying more tax (as a proportion of their income) than those at the top. That's just crazy."

Commenting on the proposals Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP said:

"I welcome conference's endorsement of these radical tax policies, which will see two million low paid workers taken out of income tax altogether. They put us on a strong footing as we move towards the next election.

"Green taxes will produce the behavioural changes needed to safeguard our environment without increasing the overall tax burden."

Related Links:

Summary of new Lib Dem tax policy.

Read more in depth about the Lib Dems' new green tax policies.