Adam Symons News
Cut Income Tax in Budget
For Torridge and West Devon’s Sake
Tuesday 11 March
2008
Chancellor Alistair
Darling should cut national income tax, paid for by rises in green
taxes, when he delivers his Budget on 12th March, say
Torridge and West Devon Liberal Democrats.
Adam Symons,
Parliamentary Spokesperson said, “The people of Torridge have been
squeezed by higher prices for energy and rising council tax over the
past year.
“What kind of messed
up system is it that ordinary working families pay more in tax than some
of the richest in this country.
“The Budget is an
ideal opportunity for Alistair Darling to cut the burden of tax on low
and middle income households.
“The Liberal
Democrats therefore want to see a cut in national income tax to 16p in
the pound. This should be paid for by increasing the taxes on activities
that degrade our environment most, such as polluting rivers or
squandering energy.
“As an environmental
scientist, but also as a passionate believer in fairness for local
people, shifting more of the tax burden from people’s income and onto
pollution will benefit people in Torridge.
“In
Britain, the poorest fifth of
households pay a bigger share of their income in tax than the richest
fifth. The wealth divide between rich and poor has actually risen
since Labour came to power. This is starkly illustrated in Torridge
where average salaries are only 60% of the national average, yet local
residents still have to deal with soaring food and energy costs.”
Rural Poverty is not Recognised
Call for an Even
Playing Field for North and West Devon
Monday 10 March 2008
Neither North Devon nor North Devon are not getting a fair deal, and
should have money redistributed to them by scrapping the Barnett
formula. That was the call by Torridge and West Devon’s Lib Dems PPC,
Adam Symons, at Saturday’s national Forum on the Countryside.
Adam said:
“North Devon’s rural poverty woes are second to none and West Devon
has widespread rural poverty. Yet the scandal is that richer areas
get more money spent on them. The Barnett formula, which means that
similar rural areas in Scotland and Wales get vastly more money,
should be scrapped, and money redistributed to North and West Devon.”
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