As a pensioner and a Lincoln City Council tax payer I was interested to read in your recent news letter your statement that ” The Tories are set to increase the rate of council tax for pensioners by a staggering 3.9 % whilst everyone else faces a lesser 2.5 %. Labour Councillors will ensure that pensioners are treated fairly.” I have been told that this statement is being circulated by the Labour Party in all the City wards.
I have worked out how the Lincoln Labour Party has assessed this percentage and whilst it is mathematically correct it is intentionally misleading. We can all manipulate statistics to try to make a point. Who was it who said there are lies, damned lies and statistics ? The important point is the one you purposely omit and wish to hide. That is, the fact that Lincoln City Council applies a ‘Local Pensioner Reduction’ which means that pensioners actually pay a lower Council tax charge than others. The reduction in the current fiscal year is lower than the previous year, which has affected the percentage increase, but nevertheless it is still a reduction on the standard charge.
Your statement ‘smacks’ of desperation in the Labour Party which no doubt will be challenged by your political opponents. I, personally have no political affiliations or leanings but I do strongly resent any political party trying to insult my intelligence or attempting to ‘con’ gullible people, especially pensioners.
Your statement on pensioners council tax concludes …”Labour Councillors will ensure that pensioners are treated fairly.” but you don’t say how. Would the Labour Party reduce further the Council tax paid by pensioners?
Rod Willis
