Jane McCarthy, a 74-year-old resident of Aylesbury, is on the brink of losing her home due to her refusal to pay council tax for over three years. The protest against Buckinghamshire Council’s £269 million investment in fossil fuels sparked a brutal legal fight. This bitter battle has now resulted in the issuing of a Final Charging Order by a judge sitting at Reading County Court. The order gives the city council standing to bring a legal action against McCarthy’s home. This might lead to the involuntary sale of her property.
McCarthy, who is fighting terminal cancer, has held back around £5,000 in wages. His goal, beyond getting elected, is to get the council to divest its pension fund, and stop banking with fossil fuel companies. She characterizes these investments as “investments in climate destruction.” Yet, she’s suspicious about their effects on the environment and future generations.
I want to pay my council tax. It’s not that I’m trying not to, McCarthy talked about her determination to uphold her political and civic responsibilities. All the while, she raised her moral concerns about where her money was being spent.
Whatever her personal situation, the people of Buckinghamshire Council are still apparently determined to push through all-out enforcement on tax collection. Robert Carington, a representative of the council, commented on the situation: “People are legally bound to pay it and the council has a legal duty to recover council tax as it is the nationally set system that funds vital local services.” He added that “consideration is always paid to a resident’s situation and this will continue to be so in this case too.”
The court has limited McCarthy’s legal costs to £1,000 — a 75% reduction. The potential of the Final Charging Order is enormous. McCarthy noted that “the order could just sit on the deeds to my property, or the council could return to court to force a sale on my house. It is up to them.”
McCarthy’s recent actions reflect a growing concern among Americans about the urgency of addressing climate change. They’re concerned about the ethical implications of investing in fossil fuels. She argues that contributing tax money to support these investments weighs heavily on her conscience: “It does, to me, evoke a matter of conscience that I’m handing over money that is going to be used to very seriously affect my children’s future.”
Carington acknowledged McCarthy’s personal views but emphasized that “like any other tax, is not a personal choice.” He noted that the council will be working to determine next steps. Their goal now is to determine how to fairly recoup the money owed to them after the court’s decision.
