Howard challenged on Council Tax

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Peter Carroll has launched a dual challenge to Tory MP Michael Howard on Council Tax.

Mr Howard has been vociferous in his criticism of Lib Dem run Shepway Council's Council Tax rise of £67 for a band D household.

Peter Carroll said, "Most of the money from Shepway residents' Council Tax bills goes to fund Conservative run Kent County Council. This Conservative Council has increased Council Tax by nearly £300 in just 5 years. Will Mr Howard now be criticising has own Tory County Council in the way he has criticised Lib Dem run Shepway? Many will find it 'opportunistic' of Mr Howard to only condemn non-Tory Councils that raise their Council Tax."

Mr Howard has also been silent on the fact that his own Conservative Councillors, who ran the Council until last May, are responsible for much of Shepway Council's financial problems.

Peter Carroll's second challenge to Mr Howard is to come clean on his plans for Council Tax. Mr Howard helped introduce Council Tax while he was in Government twelve years ago.

Peter Carroll said, "Council Tax is an unfair and deeply unpopular tax. However Mr Howard has yet to reveal whether a Tory Government would get rid of the tax and how he would replace it. In fact when asked last year on this issue, his response was 'I don't know'. Local people deserve an answer on this key issue."