Axe the Tax!

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 5th Nov 2000

Ed Davey MP and Kent Lib Dems launch the "Axe the Tax" campaign

Ed Davey MP, Liberal Democrat shadow for John Prescott, launched the party's "Axe the Tax" campaign in Maidstone on November 1st.

Speaking to an audience of County and Borough councillors, Ed Davey set out the Liberal Democrat case for replacing Council Tax with a tax based on income.

Ed Davey said, "This is about a new way of paying for local council services which is fair, because it is based on income.

"It is cheaper to collect because it would be paid through the PAYE system - and those who do not pay Income Tax would not pay anything, doing away with a means-tested benefit system.

"Three quarters of residents would be better off under this system".