Local MP Nigel Waterson has hit out at Government plans to scrap the 10 per cent starting rate of income tax because of its effect on poorer pensioners.

Nigel said: “Whatever this week’s Budget holds, the decision was taken last year to scrap the 10 per cent rate of income tax with effect from the beginning of April this year. Thousands of pensioners in my constituency will be especially hard hit as a result, and I have been deluged with letters, phone calls and emails.”

“This is another stealth tax. It will hit hardest low income groups, particularly pensioners between 60 and 64 years old. And women over 60 will be especially badly affected.”

“At a time when two million pensioners are already living in poverty and the poorest pensioners are seeing their real incomes actually falling, this is a thoughtless and vindictive act.”

11 March 2008