Lib Dems push plan to scrap council tax

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy was today putting proposals to scrap council tax at the centre of his party's local elections campaign.

Speaking in London at the launch of his party's campaign for the June 10 polls, Mr Kennedy was promoting his plans for an alternative in the form of a local income tax.

He was due to say: "Every Liberal Democrat vote in this year's local elections will be a vote to scrap the council tax.

"Council tax is now Britain's most unfair tax and it's time it was replaced with a fair tax related to people's ability to pay.

"Only the Liberal Democrats are campaigning to scrap council tax, and only the Liberal Democrats have a positive alternative. Many people on low and modest incomes would see a tax cut under our plans.

"With the Government concluding their review of council finance just after these local elections, people have a real chance to influence that policy and send a clear message to the Government that they want the end of the unfair council tax."

The other main themes of the Liberal Democrat campaign will be: value for money councils; environmental protection; building safer communities; affordable housing, particularly for key workers; and attracting European funding to aid economic development and regeneration.