PRESS RELEASE

22 April 2002

Ottaway: More talk, more taxes - South Croydon deserves better

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, has warned that the large tax increases in Labour's Budget would not deliver in itself practical improvements to public services in South Croydon. Richard Ottaway said:

"Over the past five years, taxes have gone up but public services have become worse.
The waiting list for the waiting list has soared by 24,000 across London. The Government's arbitrary targets and Whitehall interference mean that throwing extra money at the NHS without reform won't deliver the improvements that people are looking for.

"Labour have returned to their old tax-and-spend ways and broken their promises on tax. Everyday workers across Croydon will be losing significantly more from their pay packets. Someone earning £20,000 a year will lose a further £15 pounds per month to the tax man - that's £183 per year. Someone earning £30,000 per year will lose a further £24 per month which is £282 per year.

"This Budget is just more talk, more taxes, no change and no difference. South Croydon's residents deserve better."