North 'most heavily-taxed region in UK'

Workers in the North are the heaviest taxed in the UK, fresh research claimed today.

The Adam Smith Institute said local people lost 40% of their salary through income deductions, VAT and other taxes.

They calculated it would be June 5 this year before employees could keep their own money once the taxman's bill is included - five days later than the UK average.

UUP finance spokesman Roy Beggs said the totals were startling.

The whopping 40.7% is higher than the most affluent regions in the UK," he said.

"I think it is reasonable to suggest that Northern Ireland is in fact not getting a fair deal."

The findings by the Institute, a think tank behind much of Margaret Thatcher's economic planning, are based on a non-conventional way of calculating tax bills.

They include property income from abroad.

The amount of taxation has increased in the North since the Labour Party came to power by the equivalent of five days.

Wales is the lightest taxed region of the UK, where workers keep their own money by May 23 this year.

Local politicians have been lobbying the Chancellor for extra money for infrastructure.

They are using £75m (€110.6m) of the central grant to defer water charges for a year.

Mr Beggs added: "There is too much smoke and mirrors and precious little clarity as to the shape, look, and feel of the financial package.

"It appears that it amounts to a one-off £100m (€147.5m). In any case a financial package is not much use if the chancellor is giving with one hand and taking away with the other."