Council tax is a struggle for 2million people, Rowntree study shows

9.05.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 30th Sep 2006

More than two million households are struggling to keep up with council tax bills, a study has concluded. People on low incomes are particularly badly hit as a larger percentage of their earnings is spent on payments and many people find it complicated to claim council tax benefits, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson Tom Brake said "The results of this report come as no surprise. Council tax is the most unfair tax of all as it bears no relation to people's ability to pay. It should be scrapped and replaced with a local income tax. It seems absurd that someone living in an average flat in Hackney will be paying more council tax than the Prime Minister, who lives in a luxurious home in central London."