Labour has slammed the Conservatives for forcing another tax rise
on millions of Britons as bills rise today (April 1).
The Tories are once again effectively forcing councils to
put up council tax by reducing funding to councils and then
granting them additional ‘flexibilities’ to raise council
tax. This is resulting in a council tax rise of 5.1% on
average, with bills topping £2,000 for the first time.
Analysis of council tax data published on gov.uk has found that
the average council tax bill in a
Labour-controlled council is £345 less than the average
bill in a Tory council. The average Band D council tax bill
is also £72 lower in Labour-controlled areas than their
Tory equivalents.
The Labour Party has announced that it would freeze council tax
this year, paid for by a proper windfall tax on oil and gas
profits.
Today (Saturday) Labour is launching an ad van campaign in
Thurrock where the local Conservative
council has raised council tax by 10% without a
referendum.
The ad vans highlight the choice voters face between a Tory
government that has left people out of pocket and prioritised the
wealthiest 1%, versus a Labour government that would put working
people first by freezing council tax this year.
Labour has said it would tackle the cost-of-living crisis by:
- Freezing council tax for this year, funded by a proper
windfall tax on oil and gas giants.
- Keeping energy bills low for good by insulating 19 million
homes.
- Reversing the Tory decision to hand the richest 1% of pension
savers £1 billion in the midst of a cost-of-living
crisis, and instead introduce specific measures to keep
doctors in work.
- Closing the non-dom tax loophole, so people who live and
work here pay their tax here and use that money to fund one of
the biggest expansions of the NHS workforce in history and
Breakfast Clubs at every primary school.
Analysis has also revealed that today household bills
are set to rise by £400 in a single day.
,
Labour’s National Campaign
Coordinator, commenting ahead of the party’s flying
start weekend, said:
“Across the country, families tell me that they feel worse off
and that nothing is working better than it did 13 years ago when
the Tories came to power.
“By showing a Labour government would freeze council tax this
year – funded by a proper windfall tax on the enormous profits of
oil and gas giants – we are showing exactly who is on the side of
working people this local election.
“A vote for Labour on 4th May is a vote to build a
better Britain for working people.”
Ends
Notes
Council tax is to go up by 5.1% tomorrow (Saturday), an increase
of approximately £2000 per household.
Source:
Bills rise by £400 in 1 day:
- Council tax: £99 increase for a typical Band D household
- Water bills: £31 increase for a typical household
- Vehicle excise duty: £15 increase per vehicle
- Broadband: £50 increase for a typical household
- Mobile phone contracts: £210 increase for a typical household
- TOTAL: £405
Sources:
