GOVERNMENT FORCED TO ADMIT HOW MUCH IT IS TAKING FROM COUNCIL TENANTS
July 23, 2008 10:28 AM
One of the key issues in the recent St Albans council elections was how large a proportion of council tenants' rents was being seized by central government. It was reported then that almost half of every pound being paid in rent by St Albans council tenants was being swiped by Gordon Brown rather than being spent on home improvements locally.
New figures now show just how much the Government is "stealth taxing" some of the poorest in the community in order to bail out public finances. £756 million is being taken from council tenants and local authorities across the whole country.
"It is sobering to think that a relatively small number of St Albans tenants from a relatively small local authority are contributing £10 million of this sum - well over one percent of the total money raised," said Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat candidate for St Albans. "With approximately 5,200 council homes left in the constituency, each household is contributing an average of over £1900 on top of all the other taxes they are paying. It is frankly mind-blowing.
"The figures also show that the Government is pocketing nearly £200 million of the money it raises - more than one quarter - and not spending it on social housing at all, whether in St Albans or anywhere else.
"It is simply a stealth tax.on the least well off to bail out the Government while they cry crocodile tears about the lack of affordable homes for rent," Sandy said.
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