CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS AND TAXATION

Early day motion 116, tabled 23 November 2004 by Neil Gerrard (Labour). Signed by 31 members.

That this House recognises that Parliament has traditionally acknowledged and protected the right of conscientious objectors to avoid complicity in killing in times of compulsory military service; notes that compulsory military service is unlikely to be reintroduced; notes that all taxpayers are currently made complicit in killing by the requirement to pay for war and war preparations via tax contributions; believes that a system should be established to enable those with a conscientious objection to war to perform their civic duty to pay taxes with a clear conscience; and welcomes the action of seven conscientious objectors, the Peace Tax Seven, in seeking a judicial review of the current laws on taxation, which take no account of issues of conscience.

Signatures by party: Labour 25, Plaid Cymru 4, Labour/Co-operative 2.