Labour impose shock council tax rise on Islington

12.37.00pm GMT Fri 27th Feb 2009

Islington Labour hijacked the council meeting and imposed inner-London's highest council tax rise on Islington residents.

Liberal Democrat attempts to freeze the council tax were blocked last month by Labour who hijacked the budget and imposed a 2.5% rise on hard-pressed Islington residents struggling through the recession. This is inner London's highest council tax rise.

The move was fiercely opposed by the Liberal Democrat administration who have received hundreds of letters from struggling residents who back the Liberal Democrat proposal to freeze Islington's council tax and protect frontline services.

Islington Council Leader, James Kempton said:

"When times are hard, all Islington residents need money in their pockets. That's why the Liberal Democrats wanted to see a council tax freeze this year. We worked hard to deliver value for money, with no cuts to front line services.

"But Labour seem hell-bent on squeezing more council tax out of hard-pressed residents who are already suffering from the worst recession in 100 years.

"Liberal Democrats have kept their promise every year to keep council tax below the London average. Residents trust us to keep their bills low while improving services and back our campaign for a council tax freeze in droves.

"But Labour doesn't seem to care about residents except for wanting to get their hands on more of their hard-earned cash. As if Gordon Brown hasn't done enough damage already, here we have Labour locally rubbing salt into the wound.

"Ten years ago Labour saddled residents with the highest council tax in London. Labour's council tax hike shows what would happen if Labour ever took back control of the council again."

Amongst Labours high spend proposals now adopted were free school meals for all primary school kids. In fact, about half of all families qualify under the Governments mean-tested scheme, so the "winners" here are the wealthier residents with children of the right age-including London Mayor Boris Johnson! Another idea was for a £100 rebate for pensioners-again, not means tested, and of benefit to rich and poor alike.

These ideas from Islington Labour have embarrassed Labour nationally, as these proposals are not party policy, and heaped embarrassment on neighbouring Labour Boroughs such as Haringey, whose lead member for children ridiculed the idea of a free school meal policy there.

After the meeting, jubilant Labour councillors were slapping themselves on the back and addressing each other triumphantly as " Comrade" in a vivid throwback to the bad old days when Islington was a "looney left" Labour Borough.