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Retired vicar loses case over non-payment of Haringey council tax Retired vicar loses case over non-payment of Haringey council tax
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An anti-poverty campaigner in London has lost his case against Haringey council for non-payment of council tax since 2013.An anti-poverty campaigner in London has lost his case against Haringey council for non-payment of council tax since 2013.
Paul Nicolson, a retired vicar, has claimed that millions of poorer people could be getting unfair bills for costs run up by local authority officials who take legal action against them for non-payment of council tax.Paul Nicolson, a retired vicar, has claimed that millions of poorer people could be getting unfair bills for costs run up by local authority officials who take legal action against them for non-payment of council tax.
Tottenham magistrates court, however, ruled on Thursday that he must pay the £2,831.42 he owes Haringey council. Tottenham magistrates court, however, ruled on Thursday that he must pay the £2,831.42 he owes the council.
In an emailed statement, Nicolson challenged the court to jail him. “I am refusing to pay £2,831.42 council tax because of the damage the tax is doing to the health very badly off residents of Haringey some of whom have had their income stopped by a benefit sanction,” he wrote. In an emailed statement, Nicolson challenged the court to jail him. “I am refusing to pay £2,831.42 council tax because of the damage the tax is doing to the health of very badly off residents of Haringey some of whom have had their income stopped by a benefit sanction,” he wrote.
Related: Refusenik rev: the vicar ​whose council tax protest could put him in jailRelated: Refusenik rev: the vicar ​whose council tax protest could put him in jail
“Meanwhile Haringey council continues to tax the benefit incomes of its poorest residents, adding court costs, sending in the bailiffs, ignoring mental and physical ill health, the short life span, the low birth-weight, food and fuel poverty,in some of the most deprived wards in the UK … I will stop protesting when Haringey stops taxing benefit incomes.” “Meanwhile Haringey council continues to tax the benefit incomes of its poorest residents, adding court costs, sending in the bailiffs, ignoring mental and physical ill health, the short life span, the low birth weight, food and fuel poverty, in some of the most deprived wards in the UK … I will stop protesting when Haringey stops taxing benefit incomes.”
He also criticised the magistrates court for rubber-stamping “over 60,000 council tax liability orders … against Haringey residents over the past three years … adding to the mental health risks unmanageable debt damaging in the deprived wards on the court’s doorstep.” He also criticised the magistrates court for rubber-stamping “over 60,000 council tax liability orders … against Haringey residents over the past three years … adding to the mental health risks unmanageable debt damaging in the deprived wards on the court’s doorstep”.
Nicolson, 84, of Tottenham, north London, had costs of £47,000 awarded against him last month after he lost a high court case against the London borough over the level of court charges imposed on residents for non-payment of council tax.Nicolson, 84, of Tottenham, north London, had costs of £47,000 awarded against him last month after he lost a high court case against the London borough over the level of court charges imposed on residents for non-payment of council tax.
He began litigation after complaining that magistrates ruling on allegations of council tax non-payment were failing to check the accuracy of costs said to have been accumulated by the Labour-controlled council.He began litigation after complaining that magistrates ruling on allegations of council tax non-payment were failing to check the accuracy of costs said to have been accumulated by the Labour-controlled council.
He refused to pay a council tax bill as a matter of principle. He said he was issued with a summons for non-payment of council tax by Haringey council. Magistrates in Tottenham took up a liability order against him and ordered him to pay £125 costs.He refused to pay a council tax bill as a matter of principle. He said he was issued with a summons for non-payment of council tax by Haringey council. Magistrates in Tottenham took up a liability order against him and ordered him to pay £125 costs.
Nicolson complained that costs were being wrongly “lumped on” to legal bills and were a penalty unfairly imposed on the poor. He also claimed the problem could be widespread.Nicolson complained that costs were being wrongly “lumped on” to legal bills and were a penalty unfairly imposed on the poor. He also claimed the problem could be widespread.
Nicolson was the vicar of Turville, Buckinghamshire, before retiring 16 years ago. The village was used as the setting for BBC television comedy The Vicar of Dibley.Nicolson was the vicar of Turville, Buckinghamshire, before retiring 16 years ago. The village was used as the setting for BBC television comedy The Vicar of Dibley.
He said the case had nationwide implications because magistrates granted about 3 million liability orders every year to councils in England and Wales.He said the case had nationwide implications because magistrates granted about 3 million liability orders every year to councils in England and Wales.