The Liberal Democrats – Building a Fairer Britain by Reducing Income Inequality

The Liberal Democrat commitment to take the low paid out of the tax system is starting to build a fairer Britain. Commenting on the Office for National Statistics' annual report on the effect of taxes and benefits on household income, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Treasury Committee , Stephen Williams MP said:

"In Government, Liberal Democrats have been working hard to build a stronger economy in a fairer society, even while we have had to make difficult decisions to bring the deficit down.

"Today's figures show that our manifesto pledge to take the poorest out of tax and give millions of low-earners a £700 tax cut is making Britain a fairer place."

Liberal Democrat measures to reduce tax avoidance and increase personal income tax on the very wealthy are also contributing to a fairer society.

Stephen Williams continued, "The ONS figures confirm that the tax and benefits system we have created means income is now being shared more equally between households. The UK now has the lowest income inequality since 1986.

"We will be doing more in the coming years to build on this towards the fairer society Liberal Democrats want to see to enable everyone to get on in life."