Pensioners angered by council tax rises
Hundreds of pensioners made their feelings known about rising council tax bills on the streets of London yesterday.
Over 3,000 people were expected to join the Is it Fair? rally, but police put the final figure at only 600.
“Grey power” demonstrators walked from Trafalgar Square to 10 Downing Street, where a 35,000-strong petition was handed to a security guard.
Council tax bills rose on average 12.9 per cent for 2003/4, with pensioners claiming they have been hit hardest. Is it Fair said on average council tax has risen by up to 70 per cent since 1997.
A spokesman for the protesters said the tax ought to be replaced by one based on ability to pay.
Campaign head Christine Melson said: “I think it has gone very well, considering the march was off, then on.
“It had been cancelled at the end of last week and on Thursday I was told it was back on again.
“We will march again if it’s necessary. We must get the council tax changed – it needs to be changed into something fairer. We cannot afford to pay it.”
Tory local government spokesman, David Curry, said yesterday: “It is clear that the Government has brought about the current crisis by burdening councils with ever more expenditure demands.”
