TAXING TIMES
Millions face paying hundreds MORE on council tax bills as deputy PM won’t rule out axing single-person discount
Pensioners are already losing the universal winter fuel allowance
COUNCIL tax help for widows could be at risk as Angela Rayner declined to say whether the single person discount would be scrapped.
The Deputy Prime Minister didn’t commit to keeping the relief in place that cuts council tax bills by 25 per cent for taxpayers who live alone.
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The matter was raised by Tory ex-Minister Graham Stuart who said the discount is important to pensioners who are already losing the winter fuel allowance.
He called on Ms Rayner to “guarantee today, put gladness into all their hearts across the country” and not remove the measure.
But she replied: “I find it astonishing that members opposite, after running down the economy in the way that they have, after the Chancellor had to come to this House to talk about the billions of pounds black hole, that they’re now trying to claim that this Government is about raising taxes.
“This Government is about making sure that working people are better off and we’ll intend to do that.”
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Shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch earlier told MPs: “It’s been reported that the Secretary of State is being lobbied to increase council tax and remove discounts like the single occupant discount.
“Will she take this opportunity to reassure the House that the Government has no plans to increase council tax as they assured us before the election?”
Ms Rayner replied: “Yes.”
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