Benefits not caps for pensioners

摘要

The local government settlement has not relieved the air of crisis surrounding the council tax and the financing of local services. One product of this crisis has been the debate about special council tax discounts for pensioners. Although the idea may now have been scotched by legal advice around the Human Rights Act, the debate has highlighted the way that the regressive council tax is impacting upon many vulnerable people in society. In this era of low inflation, it is no surprise at all to find pensioners at the forefront of the opposition to rises in council tax.