Cheadle’s MP accused of “covering up” stealth taxes on local people

The Liberal Democrat amendment would have required HMRC to write to every taxpayer hit by the freeze in tax thresholds, spelling out how much extra tax they will be paying and whether they've been dragged into a higher rate. As well as opposing the amendment, Mary Robinson was one of 317 Conservative MPs who backed the stealth tax last week (22nd November).

Under the Conservative plans, which see tax thresholds frozen, the basic rate of tax will be £566 steeper, while someone on the higher rate will pay a whopping £2,872 extra a year by 2028.

Nationally, the Office of Budgetary Responsibility has forecast the policy will drag around six million people into a higher tax band, as salaries rise to match inflation while thresholds stay frozen.  3.2 million people will be dragged into paying basic rate tax and 2.6 million will be pulled into higher rate tax.

Tom Morrison and Cheadle Liberal Democrats have called the measures “underhand and unfair”, warning that “Conservative MPs will never be forgiven for putting the richest corporations before hardworking local families”.