TORIES GO WOBBLY ON COUNCIL TAX

12.00.00am GMT Fri 16th Nov 2007

Liberal Democrats at Essex County Council have been left baffled following Conservative leader David Cameron's plans to support council tax, as the Conservative group at the council recently supported a Lib Dem motion criticising the tax.

Mr Cameron's proposals for a different capping regime for the tax announced this week, make it clear that he remains wedded to the council tax. Meanwhile, Essex County Council Conservative leader, Lord Hanningfield, has recently called for council tax to be scrapped - a position that the Liberal Democrats have advocated for some time - and he led his group in agreeing with Liberal Democrats that the tax is unfair.

Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Lib Dem group leader said: "I am very confused and disappointed. Just over two weeks ago the Conservatives at county hall agreed with us that it is inherently unfair to tax people not taking into account ability to pay. Lord Hanningfield, who is also a Conservative Front Bench spokesman in the House of Lords, has on several occasions, publicly stated he thinks the tax should be scrapped, and has indicated his party would be reviewing their policy on keeping council tax. That clearly is not true, as proved by the Conservative party leader's endorsement of council tax. This is another example of the Tory party going wobbly and flattering to deceive.

"Council tax has been unfair and biased against the poor and the elderly since it was foisted on us by a Conservative government - retreating in a panic from the debacle of the poll tax - and retained by the following Labour government. It becomes more unfair every year as central government grants to local authorities fail to keep pace with the rising costs of services, including for the elderly, and means continuing council tax rises well above inflation."