Contact/Cyswllt: Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Plaid Cymru have performed a spectacular U-turn on a key policy pledge in the first week back at the Assembly. The new coalition party voted against a Welsh Liberal Democrat motion which would have included the future of council tax in a review of Assembly finances.

Local Liberal Democrat AM for Montgomeryshire, Mick Bates, said: "Plaid Cymru have only been in coalition a matter of weeks, but already they are turning their back on the policies they used to believe in, in order to cosy up to Labour. This week's debate on council tax was a chance to show they still believe in getting rid of the unfair council tax. Instead, they sided with Labour and the Conservatives who want to keep council tax.

"Plaid Cymru fought an election campaign to kick Labour out, and abolish council tax. Then they signed a deal to keep Labour in. Now they are voting down motions which could lead to the scrapping of council tax.

“Plaid appear to have abandoned their principles the moment they signed the One Wales Document. The people of Montgomeryshire won't be fooled again. They know now that a vote for Plaid is a vote for Labour.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now the only party committed to getting rid of council tax in Wales. Our commitment to scrapping the unfair tax remains firm."


End / Diwedd


Notes:

Welsh Liberal Democrats continue to campaign for the abolition of council tax, and its replacement with a local income tax.

Quotes from Plaid Cymru

"We want to scrap the unjust council tax and replace it with a fair local income tax." Plaid website, headline policies for the 2007 election

"[We will be] Scrapping council tax and introducing a fair taxing system." Alternative Queen's Speech, November 2006

"Is it not time that we looked to a fairer system, such as local income tax?" Ieuan Wyn Jones, plenary debate, 20 September, 2005

Welsh Liberal Democrat Motion:

The National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes that a property's market value is often unrelated to the income of its occupants
2. Deplores the 'regressive' nature of council tax.
3. Notes that high increases in council tax disproportionately affect the poor.
4. Believes that a local tax should be based on a fairer system which reflects the resident's ability to pay.
5. Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to include a review of local government taxation as part of the Commission set up to look at the financial aspects of the Welsh Assembly.

Labour amendment

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:
"2. Welcomes the commitment of the Welsh Assembly Government to maximising the assistance available to Welsh residents from council tax benefit and to develop schemes further to provide additional assistance."

Labour's amendment was supported by Labour, Plaid and Conservative AMs.