Unfair tax system creates chasm between rich & and poor - Lib Dems

5.17.43pm GMT Wed 27th Jan 2010

Following the news that the gap between Britain's richest and poorest is wider than it was 40 years ago, the Lib Dems have called for radical changes to make our tax system fairer.

Commenting on today's National Equality Panel report, Elwyn Watkins, Parliamentary Spokesperson for Oldham East & Saddleworth said:

"This report confirms the damage done to Britain's society in the 1980s by the Conservative Government has yet to be repaired.

"Gordon Brown has failed to make significant progress in reducing inequality. His Government has run out of ideas for tackling the lack of opportunity for so many children and the chasm that separates the rich from the poor.

"The Conservatives talk about a broken society, but their policies on inheritance tax and cutting education funding would make Britain less fair and further reduce opportunities for disadvantaged young people.

"We need action to tackle the gross unfairness of our tax system and to target education spending in a way that would give every child a real chance of delivering on his or her potential.

"Lib Dem plans to take everyone earning less than £10,000 out of income tax altogether would go some way to reducing inequality and make life a little easier for middle and lower-income people."

The National Equality Panel Report was commissioned by the government and was published today, 27th January 2010.

Related Link:

National Equality Panel Report.