Lisa Strachan welcomes help for pensioners

Rutherglen Liberal Democrat candidate Lisa Strachan has welcomed Liberal Democrat plans to exempt less well off pensioners from council tax.

Under the new plans, single pensioners whose income is less than £10,000 will pay no council tax. At least 20,000 single pensioners will benefit from this policy, and many pensioner couples will also qualify.

The proposals will mean a saving of up to £400 a year from a typical Band D bill, which compares to a saving of £22 under the SNP’s freeze, and a saving of £200 under plans put forward by the Conservatives. 

Recent figures from Age Scotland revealed that poverty particularly affects older people in Scotland, with 15% of pensioners living in income poverty and just under half – 49% - living in fuel poverty.

Lisa Strachan said:

“Too many poor pensioners often pay hundreds of pounds in council tax and now Liberal Democrats have a solution for these Scottish pensioners, whose income is just above the state pension.

“Our plans will lift 20,000 single pensioners who live on less than £10,000 a year out of paying council tax altogether, together with a number of couples.

“This is a major move that will help pensioners who live on a fixed income and have no choice but to struggle to pay their council tax bill.

“No other party will help these pensioners as much – for a typical Band D property, pensioners with incomes less than £10,000 a year could save as much as £400 under Liberal Democrat plans.

“These pensioners would only save £22 under the SNP freeze and about £200 under Conservative plans.

“It should be pointed out that very wealthy will not benefit from our policy but would still benefit by £200 under Conservative policy.

“This policy is simple and fair.

“Liberal Democrats have a substantial history of providing essential support for our pensioner community.

“We were the party who introduced free personal care for the elderly, and are also committed to tackling fuel poverty for this vulnerable group”