Burnham-On-Sea MP Tessa Munt has called for tax cuts for millions of people across the UK during a speech at the Liberal Democrat’s conference.

She addressed the party’s members during its annual Spring conference in Gateshead, calling for the lowest paid workers and the least well off to pay no tax at all – and those who are wealthy to pay more tax.

Tessa said: “I’m looking forward to running into the 2015 Parliamentary election with a clear manifesto message which shows we understand real life for the majority of people in this country.”

“If you’re working full time earning the national minimum wage – which is currently £6.08 – your annual salary is £11,856. And you will pay tax on that. It cannot be morally or ethically defensible to tax someone earning the minimum wage.”

“Our aim of a £12,000 minimum tax threshold means a clear, understandable message of £1,000 a month in your pocket without the Government touching it. We Lib Dems know that those on higher incomes will save, because they can; but those on low incomes will spend that extra money, because they must.”

“And that’s what we want, because that’ll be more money spent in the high street on essentials, in the local economy, which will contribute to growth, which this country needs.”

She added: “In less than a week’s time, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will present his Budget to the House of Commons. Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are arguing hard for a fairer tax system which will see a tax threshold of £10,000 and will see hundreds of thousands of the lowest paid workers being lifted out of paying tax altogether.”

“At a time when the economy is struggling and the Government is asking people to accept the consequences of difficult decisions, I think that it is only right that the Lib Dems do everything possible to make sure that the wealthy pay their fair share, and the burden on the least well off is eased as much as possible.”

“I do not know what will be in the Budget, but I am very hopeful that the Chancellor makes an announcement which shows he understands how important we think fairness in the tax system is.”

 
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