Assembly Executive announces imposition of water charges

national | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Monday October 22, 2007 13:37

by a - wwpc

wewontpay at btconnect dot com

We Won't Pay Campaign initial reaction

The We Won't Pay Campaign has reacted to today's announcement from Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy claiming the Executive has decided to 'introduce water charges through the back door' by adding a specific charge for water in the rates on top of what every household already pays for water.

Spokesperson Pat Lawlor commented "The Independent Review Panel stated that on average we already pay £160 per year for water. While we believe the real figure may actually be considerably more, it is nonetheless accpeted that we do pay for water through the rates. What the Executive has decided is that each household should pay an additional payment of £145 from April 2009 on top of what we already pay. This is clearly double taxation, and no amount of spin from the Executive can hide that fact. '

"The parties in the Executive have now broken their electoral promises that people should not pay twice for water. People have been stabbed in the back. In light of this we feel we have no alternative but to continue our campaign in the communities and fight this additional charge. Householders are already finding it difficult to pay increasing rates. This decision to introduce water charges through the back door will push thousands of low-income households into poverty.'

Comments (2 of 2)

I'm confused...

by radical jonny

Mon Oct 22, 2007 20:06

All the main political parties issued anti-water charges manifestos before the last election. What made them change their minds? Must be some mistake...

Well, just remember: when they send you a water bill, bin it. The minute they break their manifesto pledges, it ceases to be a political issue, and direct action becomes the only action.

Good news from Stormont

by conghaileach

Mon Oct 22, 2007 20:14

This is nonsense (which I suppose should be expected from the Socialist Party). Firstly, it's not a double tax because it's only a raise in the rates bill. The opposition to the double tax came about because of the plan to introduce a separate water charge. This charge would have seen money that should've went with the rest of the rates bill money go into the hands of NI Water, a GoCo set up by the British government that would have eventually been sold off to a private company. By preventing the introduction of a separate charge, the water privatisation agenda has certainly been dealt a blow.

There are questions around this rise in the rates bill though. How much will truly be needed for investment in the water and sewage infrastructure to prevent the threatened EU fines? etc.

But some good news has definitely come from Stormont if water is to be kept in public hands. And upsetting some opportunist ultra-leftists isn't such a bad thing either.