Threat of mass non-payment forces postponement of water charges
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press release 
Tuesday September 06, 2005 18:38
by . - We Won't Pay Campaign
wewontpay at btconnect dot com
Water Charges postponed for a year
Press Release issued by the We Won't Pay Campaign
We Won't Pay Campaign
Press Release 6th Sept 2005 - For immediate use
Threat of mass non-payment forces postponement of water charges
The We Won't Pay Campaign today claimed that the threat of mass non-payment of water charges is the real reason why the Government was forced to postpone the controversial introduction of the 'tap tax' until April 2007.
Ciaran Mulholland, Chairperson of the We Won't Pay Campaign stated "The Government know that if they were to introduce water charges next April as they originally intended to, they would face a mass boycott. They have failed to convince the overwhelming majority of people of the case for water charges. They have lied to people by accusing us that we do not pay for water, when we already pay for water through the rates."
Mr. Mulholland warned Minister Shaun Woodward that unless his water charges plans were completely dropped, the campaign would continue to sign householders up to the 'non-payment pledge'. "It is obvious Ministers are planning to make some amendments to how water charges are introduced in an effort to try and pull the wool over people's eyes. The real reason for water charges is to eventually privatise the water service. Water charges in England & Wales have soared since their introduction. This postponement only allows more time for our campaign to continue to grow. No matter what changes are made, the We Won't Pay Campaign will continue to call on people to refuse to pay this unjust double-tax."
Comments (11 of 11)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11This is just silly and undermines the possibility of building a strong campaign. Are you really saying the British Govt saw 300 people on the streets in Feb and thought shit, we better do a u-turn? Maybe they saw the 5 campaigns in Belfast and thought jesus these people are organised (not).
The reality is that they are determined to privatise the system yet the infra-structure is so bad, no private company would touch it with a bargepole, they need more time to lay the basis of a functioning pipe network and system that are attractive to big-business. Dovetailing this, is how does a devolved Storrmont regime react - how can they be brought (bought) on board?
As part of a campaign that advocates non-payment I would love to say it is the strength of opposition that has knocked them back - this is completely false - as anybody on the ground would be aware. We need to keep our eye on their maneouverings without crying wolf about non-existent victories.
Whatever way you look at this, be it partial, temporary, a victory is a victory. The campaign was far from perfect, and no one is suggesting the war is over. But the fact of the matter is in April 2006 I (Nor anyone else in Northern Ireland) will be getting a water charge through my letter box.
I can agree with Dave about being mindfull of the governments future maneoverings. However given the aim was and is to privatise the system, and the poor state of the system, surely this would be a greater incentive for the government to press on with these charges to get the revenue stream up and running as soon as possible. As Cairan correctly asserts, the very fact that this revenue would be in serious doubt has obviously influenced the government's decision.
With this victory under our belt, which must come as a great suprise to the sceptics who assumed these charges were inevitable.The coalition can now move forward to defeat these proposals once and for all.
I imagine this u-turn has got more to do with a general election on the horizon and the current government trying to lose its image as an administration that has saddled us with double taxes. They will no doubt introduce water charges after they get re-elected, (and call me a pessimistic but they will get re-elected), and give us all the two fingers once again.
You do realise where we are talking about don't you? The '6'. The elections were there this year.
Do keep up.
How long did there 'We won't pay' campaign last in Fingal after the council acted. About three weeks, that's how long. They are going to try to replicate the same campaign up North. No bloody hope. Try some other tactics. Parroting slogans doesn't work!
If Oh2 has some constructive suggestions on tactics I would love to hear them.
The CAWC will use any tactic to defeat this unfair double tax. If however we do get to the sad situation when water rates bills come through our letter boxes, what tactic apart from non payment would Oh 2 suggest?
"If however we do get to the sad situation when water rates bills come through our letter boxes, what tactic apart from non payment would Oh 2 suggest?"
What will you do when the sad situation arises that three weeks after households have their water cut off the SP abandon the campaign en masse (well the 20 or so of them up there)?
What lessons have been learnt from their involvement in the bin tax campaign in the south?
Not being a member of the SP I can't comment on what they might or might not do. But in the absence of any constructive suggestions from Oh 2 I assume the message is "just pay up and shut up"
statistically the poorest month, fewest people can pay bills or make ends meet or have stores in. Its interesting to note that all poverty taxes are being protested again. In the UK a vicar just went to jail today for not paying a 67council tax bill
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/northamptonshire/4221728.stm
this follows increased worries at council tax charges in wales and scotland. Another OAP in Devon is facing jail-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/4177318.stm
And the issue is heating up in Scotland. Water and in charges are the Irish equivalent.
How much money do they need? What do they build with it?
about 3 months hundreds of pickets, god know how many blockades and 25 in jail you mean. get your facts right, do you work for 02?
might be the anti water charges campaign in the south, which incidently was a complete victory. When the water was switched off, the cheeky campaigners, switched it back on again!
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