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76-year-old jailed for not paying his council tax
A 76-year-old man who had been a soldier for 22 years was jailed for 34 days yesterday for refusing to pay �1,438.51 council tax. Richard Fitzmaurice said that he was in court on a matter of principle declaring that the way pensioners are treated is shocking. He said that life was becoming unbearable for many old people with rising food, energy and council tax bills. He said he could afford to pay the bill but many can't and made the point that some pensioners will be making a cup of tea in a winter coat because they cannot afford to heat their house. Mr Fitzmaurice will serve the full 34 day sentence unless the debt is paid off. What do you think? He is breaking the law, should he be protesting some other way to save himself the trauma of being imprisoned?
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i admire his stand on principles,
councils are hoisting their tax by almost double figures and certainly way above the pension increase, the natural progression will be for pensioners in a few years time to spend all of their income on council tax, and starve
i think he wishes and so do i for his sake that no-one bails him out
perhaps this could be the start of the wrinkly revolution
they have my support!
councils are hoisting their tax by almost double figures and certainly way above the pension increase, the natural progression will be for pensioners in a few years time to spend all of their income on council tax, and starve
i think he wishes and so do i for his sake that no-one bails him out
perhaps this could be the start of the wrinkly revolution
they have my support!
-- answer removed --
He's right, the council tax is based on the house you have rather than any system of logic, this will highlight the issue but I fear it will do little to get it changed. We had a much better system in the Comunity charge but horror of horrors the great unwashed realised they'd have to contribute towards local authority funding, less money for white lightening and dope oh bl00dy dear. Enter gutless politicians, tada we have a 2.5% rise on Vat so we can fund Council tax set up. Oh It's set up now so can you reduce the vat 2.5 percentage points?? Laugh I thought my pants would never dry!
loosehead,
totally agree, poll tax was the fairest way ......unless you were a left wing open palmed layabout,
what can possibly be wrong with paying for the services you consume?
these soap dodger types who protested against the poll tax are the types who go into a cafe and order a full english and expect me to pay for their bacon!
why should one person in a large house (which incidently didnt fall out of a christmas cracker, mostly these are grafted for) - s.d. that means work! - be expected to pay more than irresponsible and socially inadequate people who are shacked up 10 deep in a property just so these lot can continue breeding uncontrollably despite not being able to cover their social obligations
presently the big deal which is still unfair is that if there is single occupancy then a 25% discount is given off council tax....thats fine...(should be 50% though),
providing of course in fairness if there are three people in a property they pay at least 25% more and so on
this must be the fairer way to raise revenues?
totally agree, poll tax was the fairest way ......unless you were a left wing open palmed layabout,
what can possibly be wrong with paying for the services you consume?
these soap dodger types who protested against the poll tax are the types who go into a cafe and order a full english and expect me to pay for their bacon!
why should one person in a large house (which incidently didnt fall out of a christmas cracker, mostly these are grafted for) - s.d. that means work! - be expected to pay more than irresponsible and socially inadequate people who are shacked up 10 deep in a property just so these lot can continue breeding uncontrollably despite not being able to cover their social obligations
presently the big deal which is still unfair is that if there is single occupancy then a 25% discount is given off council tax....thats fine...(should be 50% though),
providing of course in fairness if there are three people in a property they pay at least 25% more and so on
this must be the fairer way to raise revenues?
GREAT point RAGGYROMAN.
We have elderly citizens who are honest and law abiding who have worked all their life, paid their taxes, and fought in the 2nd world war to protect this country.
And how are they repaid, to see the scum of the earth come here and rip us off with no attempt and contributing anythng to this society.
I get so sick that almost everytime a suspected Muslim terrorist is arrested they are living on benefits.
What a sad excuse for a country we have become.
We have elderly citizens who are honest and law abiding who have worked all their life, paid their taxes, and fought in the 2nd world war to protect this country.
And how are they repaid, to see the scum of the earth come here and rip us off with no attempt and contributing anythng to this society.
I get so sick that almost everytime a suspected Muslim terrorist is arrested they are living on benefits.
What a sad excuse for a country we have become.
GHETTO POET
Muslim and immigrants entered the equasion because the majority of people in this country are sick of reading about the unfair system we have in this once great country of ours.
We have the worst pension of the affluent members of the EU, yet we are continually handing out cash to not only Third World countries, but also any Tom, dick or Harry who enters this country as an economic refugee.
Time I think for us to take a more inward approach to our problems!
I am fortunate in that I have no problem paying my Council Tax, despite living in a five bedroomed detached house in a rural community, but that doesnt mean I agree with the system, as said here previously, the Poll tax was a far fairer system to all but the ******** in our society.
I take it from your name that you live in a Ghetto and are in all eventuallity one of the ********, or perhaps an economic refugee?
To put a person of this age into prison when we are so called crying, out for more prison space is In my view the height of stupidity.
Muslim and immigrants entered the equasion because the majority of people in this country are sick of reading about the unfair system we have in this once great country of ours.
We have the worst pension of the affluent members of the EU, yet we are continually handing out cash to not only Third World countries, but also any Tom, dick or Harry who enters this country as an economic refugee.
Time I think for us to take a more inward approach to our problems!
I am fortunate in that I have no problem paying my Council Tax, despite living in a five bedroomed detached house in a rural community, but that doesnt mean I agree with the system, as said here previously, the Poll tax was a far fairer system to all but the ******** in our society.
I take it from your name that you live in a Ghetto and are in all eventuallity one of the ********, or perhaps an economic refugee?
To put a person of this age into prison when we are so called crying, out for more prison space is In my view the height of stupidity.
-- answer removed --
Firstly, you�re right, ghetto poet, Muslims and immigrants have nothing to do with this question. Neither do benefit fraudsters - of any colour or nationality.
Next, a correction to a point made by Le Chat. When this gentleman emerges from his incarceration the debt will still be outstanding. The prison sentence is a punishment for not paying and is not an option to be taken instead of paying.
The whole business of council tax needs urgent review. I agree there is nothing wrong with paying for services consumed. Unfortunately many people who pay council tax consume few of the services whilst those who do not pay seem to consume the most.
Another injustice is the way this government has redistributed the support it gives to councils away from the �affluent� south in favour of the �deprived� north. Council tax (if it is to be imposed at all) should not vary according to where you live and neither should the support provided to the councils from central taxation (which accounts for 80% of councils� revenue).
Councils should be obliged to provide the essential services laid down by central government at a fixed price per head across the nation. If they manage to have a surplus after having done so, then, and only then, can they begin to finance some of the �optional extras� of which many of them seem so fond.
The charges should not be property based. There is no justification in charging a person living alone in a big house more than a family of six living in a smaller house. Quite the reverse in fact. The argument that the single person should downsize is specious. Why should somebody be forced to sell their home simply to pay for services provided for others?
The gentleman in question has to be admired for his spirit and he has a valid point, especially where those on low fixed incomes are concerned. However, he is misguided and his action will achieve nothing.
Next, a correction to a point made by Le Chat. When this gentleman emerges from his incarceration the debt will still be outstanding. The prison sentence is a punishment for not paying and is not an option to be taken instead of paying.
The whole business of council tax needs urgent review. I agree there is nothing wrong with paying for services consumed. Unfortunately many people who pay council tax consume few of the services whilst those who do not pay seem to consume the most.
Another injustice is the way this government has redistributed the support it gives to councils away from the �affluent� south in favour of the �deprived� north. Council tax (if it is to be imposed at all) should not vary according to where you live and neither should the support provided to the councils from central taxation (which accounts for 80% of councils� revenue).
Councils should be obliged to provide the essential services laid down by central government at a fixed price per head across the nation. If they manage to have a surplus after having done so, then, and only then, can they begin to finance some of the �optional extras� of which many of them seem so fond.
The charges should not be property based. There is no justification in charging a person living alone in a big house more than a family of six living in a smaller house. Quite the reverse in fact. The argument that the single person should downsize is specious. Why should somebody be forced to sell their home simply to pay for services provided for others?
The gentleman in question has to be admired for his spirit and he has a valid point, especially where those on low fixed incomes are concerned. However, he is misguided and his action will achieve nothing.
Is this the same Richard FitzMaurice who did the same thing the other year?
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_ar ticle_id=25400&in_page_id=34
He's not some starving OAP he's a political agitator exploiting his age and war record for political gain.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_ar ticle_id=25400&in_page_id=34
He's not some starving OAP he's a political agitator exploiting his age and war record for political gain.
Whether you agree with his stance or not, jake, I think the country needs a few more "political agitators" at the moment. We are a nation that is slowly being bullied into subservience by an over-zealous executive.
Strangely this was precisely the situation that the European Convention on Human Rights was designed to obviate. Alas, even with its incorporation into UK law, it does not seem to have worked.
Strangely this was precisely the situation that the European Convention on Human Rights was designed to obviate. Alas, even with its incorporation into UK law, it does not seem to have worked.
I agree, New Judge.
Political agitation and direct protest can be very powerful and he should be applauded for standing up for his beliefs if that's his choice.
However, he shouldn't then complain if he gets jailed because of it. It's not very heroic to stand up for your beliefs and then bleat about your age and war record when it gets heated.
If he's happy to do the time, fine. Just as the Poll Tax protestors did.
Political agitation and direct protest can be very powerful and he should be applauded for standing up for his beliefs if that's his choice.
However, he shouldn't then complain if he gets jailed because of it. It's not very heroic to stand up for your beliefs and then bleat about your age and war record when it gets heated.
If he's happy to do the time, fine. Just as the Poll Tax protestors did.
I am with the minority.
The old duffer should have paid. I do!!!
We can not, nor should not allow anarchists any leeway in this country. That is why I have no sympathy for car tax didgers, TV licence dodgers and council tax dodgers. ALL should be locked up and financially back dated.
This does not for one minute mean I will be soft on other forms of crime, whatever their social impact value.
Terrorists, for example, should be tortured before being catapulted in to a bear pit.
The old duffer should have paid. I do!!!
We can not, nor should not allow anarchists any leeway in this country. That is why I have no sympathy for car tax didgers, TV licence dodgers and council tax dodgers. ALL should be locked up and financially back dated.
This does not for one minute mean I will be soft on other forms of crime, whatever their social impact value.
Terrorists, for example, should be tortured before being catapulted in to a bear pit.
Actually jake, I disagree with Richard Fitzmaurice's views on council tax.
I'm taking issue with AB Asks' implied suggestion that a man who's 76 years old and has been a soldier for 22 years should be able to dodge prison because of it.
If he wants to martyr himself to raise awareness of his argument, good luck to him. But no half measures. You don't get the glory without the sacrifice.
I'm taking issue with AB Asks' implied suggestion that a man who's 76 years old and has been a soldier for 22 years should be able to dodge prison because of it.
If he wants to martyr himself to raise awareness of his argument, good luck to him. But no half measures. You don't get the glory without the sacrifice.
I have always said the community charge was by far a much fairer system than we currently have. The value of your house, particular for pensioners who, in all likelihood, purchased their houses many many years ago, is often not a reflection of wealth.
They may be sitting on �250,000 equity but still be receiving the basic state pension. Sell their house I hear those of a Guardian disposition saying. Why? They've grafted for their property and may want to pass their property to their children or grandchildren.
The Poll Tax was a much better and fairer system.
Also, are people aware that 25% of their council tax and rising, goes toward funding council workers pensions, many of which are final salary at 60? This is a disgrace (although probably a subject for another thread).
As far as Mr Fitzmaurice is concerned - bloody good luck to him. Points of principle may result in a Pyrrhic victory, but nonetheless they are important.
They may be sitting on �250,000 equity but still be receiving the basic state pension. Sell their house I hear those of a Guardian disposition saying. Why? They've grafted for their property and may want to pass their property to their children or grandchildren.
The Poll Tax was a much better and fairer system.
Also, are people aware that 25% of their council tax and rising, goes toward funding council workers pensions, many of which are final salary at 60? This is a disgrace (although probably a subject for another thread).
As far as Mr Fitzmaurice is concerned - bloody good luck to him. Points of principle may result in a Pyrrhic victory, but nonetheless they are important.
I think a lot of people on this thread are just using his case for the age old "I pay too much tax" whine and are completely indifferent to his actual cause which is pensioners.
Personally I'd be OK with paying say an extra 10% council tax to subsidise pensioners who have a limited income.
How many of you who support him would say the same?
Personally I'd be OK with paying say an extra 10% council tax to subsidise pensioners who have a limited income.
How many of you who support him would say the same?
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