by Ceren Sagir
in Blackpool

THE government must replace “regressive” council tax with a fairer, more progressive tax on land values, shopworkers’ union Usdaw said today.

Low-income workers cannot earn enough to live on and millions of Britain’s people are worse off than 15 years ago, with council tax rising higher than the rate of inflation, the union warned on the final day of its annual delegate meeting.

Joanne Crumpling from Usdaw Northumberland Co-op group said that a few years ago, while she was working on a 16-hour contract, her husband was made redundant, which hit their family hard.

“While trying to make ends meet, we fell into arrears,” she told the conference. “It came to a point we were worried about answering the door because we didn’t know who was on the other side.

“Council tax is increasing regularly as government funding to councils decreases. It’s not getting any easier; we need this turned around.”

Ms Crumpling said the poorest lose 8 per cent of their income to council tax, but the richest only lose 2 per cent.

Council tax “sets out to impose a heavier burden” on people with the lowest levels of housing consumption and wealth, she added.

Usdaw Mid Sussex’s Jenny Lacey warned that applying for financial help has become “more and more complex,” with applicants under pressure for time, unable to provide evidence quickly enough or unable to understand the lengthy forms.

“In 2016, the government cut the revenue support grant, allowing councils to increase tax by 4 to 6 per cent. How many of you saw your wage increase as much in the last few years?” Ms Lacey asked the conference.

“How many more families will be forced into debt or go without their daily essentials? Council tax is now the second-highest monthly outcome for some families. Something needs to be done.”

Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said Britain has a “deeply regressive and out of date council tax system,” which has not been revised in 28 years.

He blamed the Conservative government and its austerity policy.

“Council tax is an appalling system and the time for change is long overdue,” Mr Lillis said.