South Lakes rural poverty report shows need for major tax reforms

Commenting on the report released this week by ACT (Action with Communities in Cumbria) on 'The Rural Share of Deprivation in Cumbria', local MP Tim Farron has said that radical tax proposals are vital to lift thousands of people in the South Lakes out of poverty.

The report stated that 51.4% of all people living in poverty in the South Lakes live in rural areas - challenging the assumption that poverty is just an urban issue. The report went on to conclude that major action must be taken to highlight the issue and make it a major priority.

The Government will be delivering their emergency budget next Tuesday, 22 June. Tim is calling for the coalition's radical tax proposals to be the centre piece of the budget to help thousands of people in the South Lakes. The plans are that the lowest earners should be taken out of paying income tax altogether.

Tim said: "Whitehall has often assumed that poverty is an exclusively urban issue. This report shows that rural poverty is a major issue in areas like South Lakeland. With the emergency budget coming up next week, we have a good opportunity to radically change the tax system. We can put hundreds of pounds back into the pockets of struggling families in our communities."