Islington Lib Dems Slam Tory Council Tax Hypocrisy

3.31.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Oct 2008

Islington Parliamentary candidate Bridget Fox met with Vince Cable to discuss new Liberal Democrat tax plans

Islington's Liberal Democrat councillors have responded with incredulity to new council tax proposals by the Tory economic spokesperson George Osbourne. The Lib Dems have laughed at the Conservatives' move to brand themselves as the party of low council tax because in fact most Tory boroughs charge more, year-on-year, than Lib Dem-run Islington.

Islington's Deputy Leader, Cllr Lucy Watt, with Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP

The Conservatives have suggested that councils who restrict council tax rises to below 2.5% would get extra money from a Conservative Government to freeze the rates. Lib Dem Islington, which had a below-inflation rise of only 2.36% again this year, and has kept council tax well below average for the last eight years running, would be one of the councils to benefit from this scheme. But research by the Lib Dems shows that, ironically, most of London's Tory boroughs have put up their council tax by more than that - and would be ineligible!

Lib Dem Islington currently has the eighth lowest council tax in London.

The Conservative boroughs with higher council tax than Islington are: Bromley, Redbridge, Enfield, Barnet, Bexley, Houslow, Merton, Croydon, Hillingdon, Harrow, and Havering. Neighbouring Labour-run Hackney and Haringey also charge considerably more than Islington.

Islington Council leader James Kempton said:

"Under Labour Islington had the highest council tax in the capital. It was the Lib Dems who have made the council more efficient and better value, and have brought council tax well below the London average. We've managed our money carefully, which means we can now afford to pay for the major projects local people want and deserve, without them feeling the effect in their council tax bills."

"The Tories are posturing, but anyone looking at the figures knows that when in power they are as financially irresponsible as Labour. Islington proves that the Lib Dems are the only answer to fixing ruinously expensive Labour councils - not the Tories."

The Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Dr. Vince Cable MP, slammed the Tories for refusing to commit to national tax cuts and "passing the buck to local councils". Dr. Cable said:

"This country needs a party that is willing to take the tough choices today to reduce the tax burden for people on low and middle incomes hit hardest by the financial crisis."