Government's Rubbish Tax

Government's Rubbish Tax

Trials of a scheme to tax householders who throw away too much rubbish are to forge ahead, Downing Street has said.

It had been reported that Gordon Brown was planning to scrap the policy after Labour's disastrous showing in the local elections in England and Wales.

The huge losses on Thursday led to heavy criticism of the prime minister's leadership by backbenchers.

The so-called pay-as-you-throw scheme, which would be run by local councils, has already been scaled back and it was thought it would now be ditched altogether.

But Downing Street has insisted they are to press ahead with the trials.

Labour MP Joan Walley, a former environment spokesman, said she was worried the government was sending out the wrong signals.

Is this yet another one of Labour's failed policies based on fairness and social justice?

Not so long ago, Strood & Medway residents will recall that the local Labour Party were claiming that Medway Council was going to introduce fortnightly collections, becuase of a minute in council papers. Lets just hope, that when this gets discussed in the Council chamber, they recall who proposed it.

So now, local residents who are already worried about rising petrol and food prices and utility bills, now have something else to contend with.