Fat-cat Hain accused of 'living in different reality'

Press release issued today by the We Won't Pay Campaign in response to Sectretary of State Peter Hain statement to business conference calling for water charges to be introduced.

We Won't Pay Campaign

Press Release 21st Sept 2005 -

For immediate use

Fat-cat Hain accused of 'living in different reality' to people of NI

Anti-water charges campaigners today slammed the Secretary of State Peter Hain after he spoke on the need to introduce water charges and to alleviate poverty in Northern Ireland.

Ciaran Mulholland, chairperson of the We Won't Pay Campaign described the secretary of state's statement as 'hypocritical and arrogant'.

'The Secretary of State speaks of the poverty and deprivation that blights Northern Ireland. But his answer to combating this poverty is to introduce a double-tax in the form of water charges which will mean householders paying an extra £300 - £400 on average every year for water.

Water charges will push thousands of families further into poverty. The only people to benefit from water charges will be the private multi-national water companies who are ready to take it over.

Mr. Hain is clearly living in a different reality to most people in Northern Ireland. This is no surprise when you consider he receives an annual salary of £133,997 and has received £237,206 in expenses for the past three years.'

The We Won't Pay Campaign also issued a warning that if the Government attempted to introduce water charges, they would be met with a mass non-payment campaign.

Mr Mulholland added ' Householders already pay for water through the rates. The We Won't Pay Campaign is receiving mass support for our call to refuse to pay the much-hated water charges. If the Mr. Hain insists upon imposing this anti-democratic unjust tax, he will be met by a mass boycott'