'Proposal would hit pensioners hardest' - Mason

John Mason, the SNP MP for the East End, has expressed concern about Labour Party plans to replace the Council Tax system with a 'Property Poll Tax' - a tax on all households of 1% of their property value.
The Glasgow East representative has warned that a local tax of this kind would hit pensioners particularly hard.

Research into the Labour plans, which have been detailed in the national press, reveals that a 1% tax on all households would see average household bills jump by nearly £500, to £1455.30 per year.
These proposals were considered by Labour before the Scottish Parliament elections in 2007, but rejected at that time.

Commenting earlier today, John Mason, who is the SNP Work & Pensions spokesman, said: "A property poll tax will hit hard pressed households to the tune of £500 each.  This would mean that pensioners and working families across the East End will face bills that are nearly 50% higher than the Council Tax.

"Any tax based on a percentage of property value would be deeply flawed.  Why should a pensioner in Springboig, for example, be penalised for increases in the property market?  People who have worked hard all their lives deserve better.

"People in the East End would once have expected better from Labour, but many folk are telling me that they are no longer shocked when Labour seeks to hit working families and pensioners in the pocket."

"In the middle of a recession, adding £468 or more to the tax bills of local families would be more than many households can afford."

Notes:

1.      For Labour reaction back in 2006 - BBC News

2.      The Herald, 9th November 2006:

"Pat Watters, president of council umbrella group Cosla, said a 1per cent homes tax was "the worst of all possibilities" and Sir Peter need not have bothered with his work."

"A source close to the First Minister said: "There is no way that Labour ministers will support a 1per cent homes tax. We will need to consider the independent review in detail once published, but if this is the main proposal, it will not be given the time of day."

3. Details of Labour's tax plans can be found here.