A retired couple from Barnet face 3 months in jail after refusing to contribute towards the cost of London's 2012 Olympics.
A retired couple from Barnet, North London, are facing jail after refusing to pay the Olympic surcharge added to their council tax bill.
While not against the games, Tom and Rita Glenister maintain that it’s unfair that they should pay out for the cost of the 2012 games when they might not even be around to see them.
For the past two years the Glenisters have withheld £33.35 ($59) of their £2320 ($4130) council tax bill in protest. This is the amount they calculated would be passed on to the Greater London Authority as a precept for the games. The GLA is planning to raise its £1billion contribution through this London council tax supplement.
"We have the money to pay this tax, but it is a point of principle" Mr Glenister said in an interview.
"Our Prime Minister has consistently told us the London Olympics will benefit the whole country but the only people paying directly for these Games are London council taxpayers. "
"We are two old age pensioners who might not even be here in 2012. It's wrong for us to fund these hugely expensive stadiums and arenas that we might never visit."
The couple have been summoned to Hendon magistrates court on 16th September when their case will be tried. Should they be convicted they will each face up to 3 months behind bars.
While Barnet council have confirmed that the couple will be appearing in court, they have refrained from providing any further information on this case. They have however, said that they take non-payment of council tax very seriously.
Barnet council leader Mike Freer commented: "None of us can choose which part of Council Tax we can pay or not pay. Should residents with no surviving parents be able to withhold the adult social services element, and what about single residents or those without children - should they be able to withhold the education element?"
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Comments (8)
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Evie Glodic
4th Sep 2008 20:08
I think that it is a disgrace to the Olympic games to force citizens of Great Britain to pay a tax to allow them to hold the Games of 2012 in that country. The United States has had both Summer & Winter Game in our country & as a citizen I WAS NEVER FORCED TO PAY A SPECIAL TAX TO HAVE THE GAMES HELD IN THE USA.
Evie Glodic
Knightdale, North Carolina
Julia Macdonell
5th Sep 2008 01:13
Ridiculous. If London cannot afford to host the Olympics without taxing old age pensioners, why host the Olympics at all?
Canadian Paul
5th Sep 2008 19:04
It's sad to hear that what happened in China could happen in England, a free democratic country! This year an elderly woman from Beijing was put in jail after petitioning to protest the loss of her home during the Olympics after it was torn down and never replaced so that Olympic Park could be built.
Forcing an elderly couple that has little money to pay for something they likely won't benefit and then threatening to send them to jail is absurd. Haven't older people paid high enough in the last two World Wars for freedoms that we take for granted and know little about the cost? Everyone sees the Olympics as being associated with good will and freedom of rights but how can this be when older people who are defenseless must give up their homes and savings for the sake of the games.
If the purpose of the games is not founded on good intentions why should it exist at all? Although the Beijing Olympics looked marvelous from its presentation, it failed to inspire the things the games truly represent: freedom, honesty and good faith. If the London Olympics is to inspire good will it must work on its spirit if nothing else.
robert arnold
16th Sep 2008 09:37
this is a joke the 2012 games is not just for london it's for the uk.
and at the end of the day we pay tax so there is money there to fund the games.
and if m.p's didnt get payed so much and didn't take tax payers money to spend on there 2nd home's that tax payer pay for then we would be giving the games ever but untill then we are just the same old u.k.
over tax and under payed
go ahead, take from the poor to benefit the rich, as usual
David Roberts
24th Sep 2008 11:47
No suprise that the judge ordered them to pay. When will the British public open their eyes and realise that just because a so called authority tells them to do something, does not mean that it is lawful and in their best interests.
We have all been dumbed down with reality TV and consumer fetishes.
Citizens revolt, you have nothing to lose ( exept your liberty ? ). We live in repulsive times run by repulsive people.
Notice the usual caveat by Barnet council factum " if we all did it where would we be" a lot better I think !
The games are of interest only to the minority but nevertheless a useful tool for proping up failing governments.
If its for the UK as a whole then the money should come out of that budget, not just london.
Glad I don't live in the UK.
