Lib Dems say scrap council tax in Wales

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 17th Oct 2005

Alison Goldsworthy protesting against the Council Tax rebanding

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Cardiff West, Alison Goldsworthy has called for Council Tax to be scrapped in Wales.

Speaking at Welsh Lib Dem conference in Llandrindod Wells.

on a motion calling for an extension of the 'dampening' scheme which limited the increase in rebanding to one band, Alison Goldsworthy said:

"Of course I am in favour of extending the dampening scheme but what I would really like to see is not just the rebanding scrapped but Council Tax scrapped altogether. Over 90% of households in some parts of Cardiff West saw their Council Tax band increase

" Introduced by the Tories and supported by Tony Blair's Labour Party, Council Tax is a beacon of injustice. Two people who live next door to each other may earn vastly different amounts but still they pay the same Council Tax. Those who rent a house pay for the value of someone else's home.

" Yet despite these blatant inequities the Labour party seems wedded to a Council Tax and wedded to rebanding. This is one relationship that is long overdue a divorce."