, Labour’s Shadow Communities
Secretary, commenting on the IFS’
analysis of political parties’ manifestos, said:
“Local government is under enormous pressure because of
politically motivated Tory cuts that have hit the poorest
hardest.
"60p in every £1 has been cut from local government
budgets over the last decade.
“It’s clear the Tories will continue the squeeze on
local public services by not even covering funding for the
rising demand, as the IFS highlight, a 4% rise in council tax
will still leave councils without the funding they need.
Labour will rebuild local government and put it on a
sustainable footing.
“Voters now have a clear choice on the 12th
December - to vote for more failure with Johnson’s Tories or
for real change and investment in people and services under
Labour."
Ends
Notes to editors
-
The IFS highlight that ‘The money allocated by the
Conservatives would not be sufficient to meet rising costs
and demands over the next parliament even if council tax
were increased by 4% a year. This would necessitate a
further retrenchment in services, or unfunded top-ups to
the plans set out.
-
Labour councils charge less in council tax than the
Tories.
-
The table below shows average Council Tax per
dwelling, based on party control.
|
Political control
|
Average council tax per
dwelling
|
Difference
|
|
Labour
|
£1169
|
|
|
Conservative
|
£1520
|
£351 (30%)
|
Labour party analysis of: MHCLG, Live tables on
Council Tax, 29 March 2019, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/789634/Table_Per_dwelling_2019-20.xlsx
