Council tax rebel may not have to pay
Elizabeth Winkfield, the pensioner vowing to go to jail rather than pay her council tax, could be exempt from the charge, a government minister has claimed.
Nick Raynsford, the local government minister, said this morning that if press reports about Mrs Winkfield’s income were accurate then she would not have to pay her bill and could be entitled to extra benefits.
The rebel pensioner is refusing to pay her council tax after the charge went up by an inflation-busting 18 per cent.
“If the figures in the papers are right and her income is just £77 a week, she shouldn’t be due to pay any council tax at all,” Mr Raynsford told GMTV.
The government is now looking at ways to improve the information available to pensioners to ensure that they are aware of the benefits they are entitled to.
