Hounslow used to be among the best for Council tax collection rates, however, since those halcyon days Hounslow like most local authorities have made a lot of staff redundant which would, I assume, mean that the Treasure's dept. too have taken their share. It doesn't take a genius to see how that would affect that and many other services. As your original rant came from that well known liberal organ the Daily Mail, I for one will draw my own conclusion as to the veracity of the figures. Just a small thing, I am heartily sick and tired of people who are in receipt of any kind of benefit being called 'scroungers', what does that make the tax evaders/avoiders? Our welfare state is something we should all be proud of, yes there will always be a minority who abuse it, but let's stop labelling people scroungers shall we? I don't suppose the Daily Mail would appreciate people like Gary Barlow, Jimmy Carr, and half the government's mates and relatives being referred to as 'tossers' would they?
Vanessa Smith ● 5056d