Help for thousands of Blackburn & Darwen residents

The Liberal Democrats in government have made sure that the Coalition's budget is one for the many, not the few.

The budget cuts the income tax bill for 34,900 hard working local people and introduces new taxes on the richest to ensure they pay their fair share.

Commenting on the budget local Lib Dem Leader Cllr. David Foster said:

"I'm proud that the Lib Dems have delivered the largest ever rise in the tax free personal allowance. That puts us on course to deliver a person allowance of £10,000 by 2014 - one year earlier than planned.

"Locally here in Blackburn and Darwen the average tax payer will be £45 a month better off than they were under Labour. That wouldn't be happening with a majority Tory government.

"But making taxes fairer isn't just about helping average families and the least well off. It's about making the rich pay their share. As a result of a lot of hard work by Nick Clegg and others in government that will now be the case.

"Cutting the 50p rate would not have been a priority for a Lib Dem government. But the Tycoon Tax and new taxes on homes worth more than £2million will raise FIVE TIMES as much as the 50p rate changes."