Labour’s Council Tax rises cost families £149

Households in Wales would be £149.31 a year better off had Labour acted to freeze Council Tax each year since 2010, Welsh Conservatives claimed today.

On a visit to a band D household in Cardiff, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP joined Andrew RT Davies to reveal how much Welsh households would have saved.

Conservatives in government have acted to freeze Council Tax bills in England and legislated to allow referendums on exceptionally high proposed increases.

Despite receiving several Barnett consequentials in recent years resulting from the council tax freeze in England, Labour Ministers failed to act.

Andrew RT Davies AM, Welsh Conservative Leader, said, “Welsh Conservatives are a party of low tax and believe money is better off in people’s pockets than in the coffers of the Welsh Labour Government.

“A council tax freeze in each of the past four years would have given taxpayers much-needed relief from rising bills.

“It’s a pity that Labour Ministers continue to drive up council tax bills at the expense of hardworking families.”

Janet Finch-Saunders AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said, “Council tax bills have risen by 150% under Labour and without action to freeze Council Tax in 2015-16, are set to rise even further.

“A series of council tax freezes, which have been enjoyed by families in other parts of the UK, would have put £149 in the pockets of hard-pressed families.

“People in Wales have annually faced some of the UK’s highest council tax rises, while the Welsh Labour Government has simply sat on its hands.

“After years of above inflation council tax rises, Labour Ministers must act to help local authorities freeze bills without hitting the delivery of frontline services.”