BROWNS TAX CHANGES GIVES SHABBY DEAL FOR SOLDIERS (Scarborough and Whitby Liberal Democrats)

Scarborough and Whitby Liberal Democrats <info@scarboroughandwhitbylibdems.org.uk>

BROWNS TAX CHANGES GIVES SHABBY DEAL FOR SOLDIERS

April 15, 2008 2:15 PM

Up to 66,000 armed forces personnel will be worse off from this week as a result of the abolition of the 10p income tax rate, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

Members of the armed forces of private rank up to level 3, who have a starting salary of just £14,349, will be up to £90 a year worse off because of the change.

In total, up to a third of all armed forces personnel could find themselves paying more tax as a result of Gordon Brown's tax changes.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said:

"This is a shabby deal from ministers who appear to care little about those who put their lives on the line for Britain.

How can we be asking our hard-pressed personnel to pay more in tax when we pay them so little in the first place?

This is a disgraceful way to reward our armed forces for the fighting they are doing in Afghanistan and Iraq at this Government's behest."

"There are many from Scarborough and Whitby in the Armed Forces who will suffer from this unfair tax. What sort of message does this give them?" said Tania Exley-Moore, Scarborough's Lib Dem PPC.