Official: Local families worse off under Labour 10/04/05

William MacDougall, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Tottenham, has pointed to new figures showing that since 1997, average incomes have declined for first time and hard-working families have become poorer.

The analysis of new government figures by the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies that take-home pay has fallen due to higher income tax, National Insurance and council tax. In Haringey, with the double whammy of a Labour Council and a Labour Government, the average council tax bill has
risen by 60%  on a Band D bill since 1997.

Commenting on the news, MacDougall said:

"For the first time in over a decade, families' take home pay has been cut because of Mr Blair's tax rises. Hard-working families are now worse off thanks to his policies. Contrary to his 1997 that he had 'no plans to increase tax at all', the Government have has put up stealth taxes 66 times, and plans further tax hikes if they manage to win again."

"Imagine what five more years of Mr Blair would mean for Tottenham. Labour is borrowing, spending and wasting so much that as sure as night follows day, if Labour won the election, Mr Blair would raise taxes on hardworking families again, with the typical council tax bill hitting the £2,000 mark at
the end of any Labour third term.

"Families that work hard and do the right thing need a government that recognises and rewards their efforts and that gets value for money for their taxes. So there is a clear choice at the election - higher taxes and less money in your pocket under Mr Blair or lower tax and value for money
with the Conservatives."

ENDS.