A PROSPECTIVE Parliamentary candidate is campaigning for the abolition of council tax.

Ian Swales, Liberal Democrat candidate for Redcar, is gathering petitions against the tax in favour of what he says is a fairer alternative.

The Liberal Democrat party plans to introduce a local income tax that they say will benefit, or not affect, 70 per cent of households. They say the average family would be £450 a year better off and most pensioners would also benefit.

Liberal Democrat councillors on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are backing the call.

Leader Chris Abbott said: "It's high time the process for raising local revenue was changed. We need a fairer system based on people's ability to pay."

Mr Swales says the present system needs to be changed for many reasons, including the fact that pensioners pay the same as their wage earning neighbours.

"The council tax is based on what someone else thinks your house is worth and the less well off pay a much higher proportion of their income in tax than the most well off."

Mr Swales is gathering signatures for a local petition. People wishing to join the campaign can also visit the campaign web site at www.axe-the-tax.org.uk.