Michael Fabricant has expressed his bitter disappointment with the
Government’s provision for local government. "Despite all the advance hype
issued by the Government’s news managers, Lichfield District will only see
a cash increase this year of 0.4% on the previous year. With inflation
running at around 2.5% and wage inflation being considerably higher than
that, this increase of less than half a percent will spell either reduced
services or higher council taxes or both. There is no other solution" says
Michael Fabricant. "The arithmatic of it all is that just to stand still
next year, Council Tax would have to rise by 4%".

"This is an insult to local people who make a far higher contribution in
income tax and vat per capita to the Government than the national average.
The Treasury seems happy enough to collect our taxes, but Gordon Brown seems
unwilling to support our local services.

"I understand that the Council have the right to appeal against this miserly
grant and I am offering them all the help I can give to ensure fair funding
for the District Council and Council Tax payers here in Lichfield District."
Michael adds.