This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7000350.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Lib Dems push for income tax cut Lib Dems approve income tax cut
(20 minutes later)
Liberal Democrats are to vote on plans to lower the basic rate of income tax by four pence in the pound. Liberal Democrats have voted to lower the basic rate of income tax by four pence in the pound - to 16p.
Treasury spokesman Vince Cable is also calling for council tax to be abolished and replaced with a local income tax. The party is also calling for council tax to be abolished and replaced with a local income tax.
The Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton is to vote on increasing "green" taxes, including replacing air passenger tax with a tax on flights. The Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton voted to increase "green" taxes, including replacing air passenger tax with a tax on flights.
Mr Cable has denied that his plans will "hammer" the rich, but insists most families would be better off. Mr Cable denies that his plans will "hammer" the rich, but insists most families would be better off.
'Fairer and greener' 'Massive inequalities'
He has also said that the overall tax burden will not be raised by a Lib Dem government. He told the conference: "We are not arguing for higher levels of tax but for a system that is fairer and greener."
Mr Cable told the conference that Prime Minister Gordon Brown, when chancellor, had presided over "massive inequalities of income and wealth". Prime Minister Gordon Brown, when chancellor, had presided over "massive inequalities of income and wealth", he added.
He said: "I don't accept the argument that council tax is the basis for some kind of progressive taxation on property. Mr Cable said: "I don't accept the argument that council tax is the basis for some kind of progressive taxation on property.
"It's a system where, if you have a £30m house, you can pay the same council tax as a pensioner couple living in a bungalow."It's a system where, if you have a £30m house, you can pay the same council tax as a pensioner couple living in a bungalow.
"You can live on the opposite side of the road and live in a different borough, paying twice the level of income tax.""You can live on the opposite side of the road and live in a different borough, paying twice the level of income tax."
Lord Newby, chairman of the Lib Dem policy working group, told the conference that, under the local income tax plans, people earning £250,000 a year would pay three times as much as under council tax.Lord Newby, chairman of the Lib Dem policy working group, told the conference that, under the local income tax plans, people earning £250,000 a year would pay three times as much as under council tax.
Those earning £15,000 would pay a third of what they are now charged, he said, adding: "This is fairness Lib Dem-style."Those earning £15,000 would pay a third of what they are now charged, he said, adding: "This is fairness Lib Dem-style."
Flights
He said: "The tax system can be made fairer, simpler and greener, and we know how to do it."He said: "The tax system can be made fairer, simpler and greener, and we know how to do it."
Supporters of the tax on flights say it will act as a deterrent to airlines flying near-empty planes, unlike air passenger tax.Supporters of the tax on flights say it will act as a deterrent to airlines flying near-empty planes, unlike air passenger tax.
The motion also proposes raising the threshold at which inheritance tax is payable to £500,000 and reforming "regressive" stamp duty on homes, so that "all those buying properties up to £500,000 in value pay less than at present". Lib Dem delegates voted to raise the threshold at which inheritance tax is payable to £500,000 and to reform "regressive" stamp duty on homes, so that "all those buying properties up to £500,000 in value pay less than at present".
Mr Cable is promising to "simplify" the taxation system, with tax return forms reduced to the size of a "postcard".Mr Cable is promising to "simplify" the taxation system, with tax return forms reduced to the size of a "postcard".
On Sunday, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said of Labour's time in power: "The people at the top have done very well. In fact, they've done too well.On Sunday, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said of Labour's time in power: "The people at the top have done very well. In fact, they've done too well.
"The division between rich and poor has become too great and it's time for it to be redressed.""The division between rich and poor has become too great and it's time for it to be redressed."
Sir Menzies said replacing council tax with a local income tax would mean those households earning more than about £70,000 a year paying more.Sir Menzies said replacing council tax with a local income tax would mean those households earning more than about £70,000 a year paying more.