No April Fools joke for taxpayers

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Apr 2008

The new new income tax rates that come into force today have been condemned by a leading member of the National Assembly for Wales today, claiming that they will leave thousands of lower income households worse off.

Michael German, Leader fo the Liberal Democrats in the National Assembly for Wales said: "From April 1st there will be a 2p cut in income tax, however, the 10p starting rate will be scrapped. While this will result in lower taxes for middle and higher earners, low earners will actually pay more tax. Those without children will be particularly badly hit.

"The government approach to tax seems completely back to front." said Mr German. "Those who are earning the least, including those on the minimum wage, are going to find the amount of tax taken from their pay checks this month increases."

"While I support any move to decrease the tax burdens on families, it should not be done at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society. It has been a long standing Liberal Democrat policy to move the burden of taxation to those who are the most able to pay. It appears however to be Labour policy to move it onto those who are least able to."