Butetown Branch Labour Party

Labour have attacked Cardiff Lib Dems for "sheer rank hypocrisy", for
claiming credit for tough action which they have consistently opposed.

New police curfew powers in the Bayside Estate in Splott recently saw the
Liberal Democrat Cardiff Council quick to claim the credit. Yet both at
Westminster and at a Cardiff Council level they have opposed all Labour's
efforts to tackle the misery caused by gangs of youths.
In Westminster they voted against the Anti Social Behaviour Bill and
against measures to disperse gangs of yobs, while in Cardiff they voted
against a resolution calling for tough action to tackle anti-social
behaviour, with new leader Rodney Berman specifically opposing dispersal
powers.

Cardiff South and Penarth AM Lorraine Barrett said: "The sheer rank
hypocrisy of the Lib Dems is breathtaking. This is a typical Lib Dem
tactic to claim the credit for things which go well while disowning
anything unpopular.

"Curfews do not come about quickly and the Lib Dems would have more
credibility if they acknowledged the work of those who achieved this.
Local residents groups fought for this, working closely with Splott Labour
councillor Clarissa Holland, the police and the Cardiff Community Safety
Partnership to tackle youth annoyance."

Lorraine Barrett AM

Liberal Democrat plans to replace Council Tax would hit hard-working
families

According to the Liberals' own local income tax calculator an average
earning two parent family in Cardiff would have to pay an extra £42 per
month an extra £505 a year.

Cardiff South and Penarth AM LORRAINE BARRETT said: "The Lib Dems make
grand claims about the benefits of their local income tax but like so many
of their promises, they turn out to be made of sand. The plain reality is
that working families would be worse off. In Cardiff an average family
would be forced to pay more than £500 a year extra.

"When your study Lib Dem policy it is very quickly apparent that, far from
standing for more fairness in society, a Lib Dem Government would result
in huge social injustices. They are committed to abolishing Child Tax
Credits, scrapping the New Deal and abolishing the Pension Credit. Liberal
Democrats oppose tough measures to deal with thugs and anti-social
behaviour.

"The Liberal Democrats love to spread scare stories on local taxation in
their leaflets. But they would be far better off using their energy to
encourage the 30 per cent of pensioners entitled to council tax benefit
but who currently do not claim it."

Notes - Living under the Lib Dems:

The Lib Dem plans to introduce a local income tax hit hard-working
families hard.

Just like their plans to abolish the Child Tax Credit, scrap the New Deal,
and abolish the Pension Credit their local income tax plans would hit
hard-working families in the pocket.

Local 2004-05 Band D Lib Dem Local Annual Monthly
Authority Council Tax Rate Income Tax Rate Change Change

Cardiff £872 £1,377 £505 £42

*Figures based on results of the Lib Dem Local Income Tax Calculator.
Figures calculate the rate of tax of two working people earning the gross
median average wage in Wales.


Lorraine Barrett AM

Alun Michael MP