Daily Post (North Wales): Tax burden rises 50%

BRITAIN'S tax bill has increased by more than 50% in the past ten years under Labour, it was claimed today.

A report by the TaxPayers' Alliance pressure group said the total tax burden now stood at £517m a year - the equivalent of £20,700 per household.

That compared with a tax take of £223bn in 1997-98, a 76% increase or 51% if inflation is taken into account.

The TPA said much of the increase was accounted for by little-noticed "stealth taxes" or "fiscal drag" - failing to raise tax thresholds in line with earnings.

The fastest growing tax was stamp duty which now brings in £14.3bn compared to a take of £3.5bn tens years ago - an increase of more than 300%.