Simon Hughes MP at Axe the Tax Demo

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 1st Aug 2004

Simon Hughes MP and other active Liberal Democrats including Cllr Harvey Rose collected large numbers of signatures to get Council Tax scrapped.

Simon Hughes MP attends the Lib Dem Axe the Tax Demo

Liberal Democrats believe that Council Tax is unfair as millionaires can pay the same as poor elderly residents. Lib Dems would get rid of Council Tax and replace it with a local income tax.

Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr Harvey Rose, said: "A local income tax would be cheaper, as it would be collected more efficiently via an existing method - the income tax collection system. It would be fair as it would be based on earnings."

Elderly couples would gain £1,080 a year. Teachers would be expected to benefit by £230 and Cabinet Ministers would lose £2,475 a year.

If you would like to read more about Local Income Tax and why Council Tax does not work please see the following website: http://www.axethetax.org.uk