Alliance blasts McCartney's rates remarks and calls for local tax system

1.06.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th Sep 2006

Carrickfergus Alliance Councillor, Stewart Dickson

Alliance Party Spokesperson, Stewart Dickson, has slammed Robert McCartney's comments on rates as unhelpful and inadvisable. Stewart Dickson said that the best way to scrap this unfair rates system would be to get the Assembly up and running again so that we can implement a fairer scheme.

The Carrickfergus Councillor said: "Robert McCartney's comments on rates are unhelpful and inadvisable. The best way to get rid of this disgraceful wealth tax is to get devolution up and running again so that we can implement a fairer scheme, and Robert McCartney should be concentrating on helping get the Assembly working again.

"This rates hike is totally unacceptable. Alliance proposes an income-based tax which would be a much fairer system. A scheme based on the ability to pay is required to ensure that we can scrap these unjust rates rises.

"Also, through ending segregation we can save £1 billion every year in Northern Ireland. Segregation means the unnecessary duplication of facilities in our education, health and social services. The £1 billion saving could be used to ensure that there is no need for rates hikes."

ENDS