TaxPayers’ Alliance responds to UK councils racking up £98 billion of debt

Responding to a BBC report into council debt that shows that UK councils owe a total of £97.8 billion to lenders, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:

“Taxpayers will feel bewildered at the sheer scale of debt that councils have accrued.

“Despite years of pleading poverty and hiking council tax, local authorities continued to throw billions of pounds at pet projects and lavish pay deals for execs.

“Councils across the country must urgently reverse this trend by cutting waste and prioritising essential services.”