I MUST correct the statement in the BEN, March 17, by Mr Stuart Lever, as to what I said in the council meeting on March 3.

He claimed I said Nigel Lawson, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, cut the higher rate of tax from 80pc to 40pc, leading to a fall in the amount of tax the country collected, consequently reducing the council subsidies resulting in higher council tax bills.

Never once did I mention the name of Nigel Lawson or higher rates of tax, in any parts of my speech.

What I really said was that if Bolton Council had received the same amount of rate support grant given to the councils of Westminster and Wandsworth by the Conservative Government, then our council tax would be at much lower rate than today. By all means attack me if you want to, but do it by giving the facts.

Cllr E Johnson

Latham Road, Blackrod

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