Pensioners hit by Labour's £200 Council Tax bombshell

2.03.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 15th Apr 2006

The Liberal Democrats have joined with pensioners' groups to condemn Gordon Brown's decision not to repeat the £200 Council Tax discount for pensioners. Gordon Lishman, the Director General of Age Concern, said: "It beggars belief that the chancellor has denied pensioners any extra help with their council tax bills, just as a new round of bills is set to cause anxiety for millions."

Lib Dem leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, said that the rise in council tax bills combined with the government's decision not to renew the £200 rebate offered to pensioners last year means a 25% rise in council tax for the over-60s.

"Pensioners in that poverty trap face a huge increase, and that is Labour's gift to pensioners at this year's council elections," he said. Sir Menzies accused the chancellor, Gordon Brown, of dropping the £200 pensioners' rebate from last month's budget because it had served its purpose as a "pre-election bribe" before the 2005 general election.

As pensioners across Crawley Borough struggle to pay Labour's tax on pensioners, Northgate Lib Dem campaigner Linda Seekings said: "Local pensioners have been let down by Labour. They should send a message to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown by kicking out their local councillors here in the elections on 4th May"