MANY thanks to Alan Scotford (Wiltshire Times, June 2) for demonstrating how the Conservative government’s policy of transferring the raising of taxation from central to local government means the rich pay less tax and so in the end there is nothing there for the poor.
When I was a social worker in Wiltshire before 2006 local councils were already kept so short of funds by central government that they couldn’t deliver the social care that people were entitled to under Acts of Parliament made by central government, such as services for people for disabilities, care at home for people being discharged from hospital, and support for carers.
It’s a clever ploy because people often blame the local council, not realising that the Westminster government keeps a stranglehold by limiting the amount of our income tax money they get and how much they can raise in council tax.
Social care was inadequate in 2006 but under the Conservative government it’s a disaster area.
Sadly, many people don’t know this until they need care for themselves or a loved one and are shocked to find that there is nothing there unless they can pay the whole cost themselves. It’s truly a case of low taxes for the rich and therefore no help at all for the poor.
Vivienne Kynaston
Elms Cross Drive
Bradford on Avon