Council tax jail protest - "there is a better way"
13/03/2008
I read with interest the story of Mr Fitzmaurice and his brush with the law regarding unpaid council tax.
In common with Mr Fitzmaurice our Pensioners' Association feels that council tax is unfair to many pensioners. We would like to see it abolished in favour of some alternative way of funding local government which takes into account the taxpayer's ability to pay. We join with other pensioner groups in lobbying government to change the system.
However, we do not feel that refusing to pay council tax is an appropriate strategy to achieve change. Local authorities are obliged to levy the tax under rules laid down by government and they cannot unilaterally change the system. By withholding payment and, if the council is unable to collect the money, the effect will be to penalise all other council taxpayers in the district who collectively have to make up the shortfall.
It would appear from your report that Mr Fitzmaurice had the means to pay and therefore we believe he should have paid and not go to prison.
Instead we urge he joins us and other pensioner groups and makes his protest known to those who have the power to change the system. Those who can change the system are the government, rather than his local authority.
Frank Hendrix
Treasurer
Biggleswade & District Pensioners' Association
(website linked below)