Liberal Democrat leader urges Chancellor to cut Income Tax for ordinary people

Cllr Stuart Bray, the Liberal Democrat leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne urging him to cut Income Tax for people on middle and low incomes.

Stuart Bray has joined with Liberal Democrat council group leaders across the country to urge the Chancellor to speed up raising the Income the tax threshold, so that people do not have to pay Income Tax on the first £10,000 they earn.

Stuart Bray said "In these difficult times it is vital we give ordinary working people a tax cut. The Lib Dem policy of no tax on the first £10,000 people earn is at the heart of the Coalition Agreement

"Raising the tax threshold to £10,000 would take two and a half million wage earners across the country, and thousands here in Hinckley and Bosworth, out of Income Tax altogether. This would be a great way of both making work pay and helping people on lower incomes through these tough times.

"If we get a £10,000 Income Tax threshold it would mean a £60 a month tax cut for working people.

"Here in Hinckley and Bosworth we have frozen Council Tax because we realise how important it is to give people a tax break, I hope the government will help them further by fast-tracking this Income Tax cut.

The text of the letter sent by Cllr Stuart Bray and other Lib Dem council leaders is;

Dear Chancellor,

We lead Liberal Democrat council groups across the country and are calling on you to listen to the Lib Dem call to raise the income tax threshold to £10,000 faster than originally planned.

Giving working people on lower incomes more support has to be a top priority. This will mean over two and a half million low wage earners across the country will not have to pay any income tax at all - and other lower earners will still get a substantial tax cut.

As councillors from across the country, we see and talk to these people every week. They are people like the working mum whose salary has not increased in recent years and is struggling with rising bills or the young person in his first job who is struggling to make ends meet, worried about unexpected bills and repairs.

We have heard many times about the need to make tough choices in these difficult times. One choice the government should make is to ensure the wealthy pay their fair share and speed up the plan for the burden to be lifted on the poorest.

This also means that if there is ever any reduction in the 50p top rate of income tax then new taxes that target the rich must be introduced so the wealthy pay their share.