Commons play catch up on council tax

As the House of Commons debates calls for the UK Government to follow the Scottish Government by introducing a council tax freeze in England, Labour and the LibDems showed themselves to be in a confused position whilst the Tories played catch up by seeing sense in putting more money back in people's pockets in difficult economic times.

A Tory opposition day motion calls on the UK government to "fund councils in delivering a council tax freeze in England; as is already in operation in Scotland". Labour say they oppose the motion despite the fact that, in London, all eight Labour-run local authorities are set to freeze council tax next year.

And the Liberal Democrats are also in a state of chaos with councillors in England pressing for local authorities to freeze council tax – whilst their Scottish counterparts are calling for council tax hikes.

SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said:

"They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in this case it is Labour hypocrisy, Conservative catch up and LibDem confusion. The SNP Government in Scotland has been leading the way on a council tax freeze and has shown how it can be done in difficult economic times. In such times it is important to put more money back in ordinary people's pockets which also helps the economy.

"But Labour’s double standards know no bounds. It shows utter confusion to oppose a council tax freeze whilst their local authorities in London plan to introduce it an attempt to avoid electoral wipe-out.

"This debate shows how the SNP Government has put Scotland ahead of the rest of the UK in tackling the economic downturn by acting quickly to bring forward measures to give businesses and households a helping hand.

"With more powers, we could do so much more. The current downturn underlines the urgent need for Scotland to be given the full economic powers of an independent nation."

Note:

1. Details of Labour’s plans for a council tax freeze in London are reported in the Evening Standard:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23751688-council-tax-to-be-frozen-in-london.do

2. Lib Dems force tax freeze in Redbridge…
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/4637603.REDBRIDGE__Council_agree...

…but argue for an end to the council tax freeze in Scotland:
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1456930?UserKey=


3. The text of the Conservative motion for debate today is set out below:

That this House notes with concern that this year’s local government finance settlement will increase average Band D council tax to over £120 a month each year despite inflation being negative; cautions that this rise will mean that council tax has more than doubled since 1997 with a third of the increase in the basic state pension being negated by council tax rises; expresses concern at the effect of the Government’s social care plans on council budgets; urges the Government to help fund councils in delivering a council tax freeze in England, as is already in operation in Scotland; and asserts that this year’s settlement will increase the domestic tax burden at a time when households are already having to restrain their spending as a result of the prolonged recession.