Conservative Press Release: Thousands of MK residents will be given rebates on their council tax bills worth hundreds of pounds to limit the impact of soaring energy prices on poorer households.
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, announced today that 4 in 5 households will benefit from additional support as people in council tax bands A to D will receive a tax cut funded by the Conservative Government.
This one-off payment will benefit around 80 per cent of all homes in England and is £1 billion more generous and more targeted towards lower-income families than a VAT cut on energy bills.
Locally, the Labour and Liberal Democrat Council have raised Council Tax on all residents by 3.75% meaning the average household will be paying an eye-watering £1,900.
This was their 8th council tax increase in 8 consecutive years.
However, the Conservatives want to ease the burden on the poorest households and cushion the blow of the rising cost of living.
The local Conservatives say that they are committed to decreasing the tax burden on households at a time when the local Labour and the Liberal Democrat Council are determined to increase it.
Cllr Alex Walker, Leader of the Conservative Group, said:
“The rising cost of living is number one on people’s minds and locally, the Labour and Liberal Democrat Council have only made this worse by substantially increasing council tax.
It is right that the Government is stepping in to ease the burden on people’s pockets and residents in MK will now benefit from a £150 council tax cut.”
Councillor Rob Middleton, Labour Progressive Alliance Cabinet Member for Resources, said:
“The Conservative Government today announced a Council Tax rebate that is nothing short of an insult to the residents of MK. At a time when residents are seeing their energy bills skyrocket by 75%, are paying hundreds more every year on their weekly shop, and many are facing paying an extra £500 in National Insurance contributions, this Council Tax rebate is a paltry sticking plaster. Rather than attending parties in Downing Street, and wasting £4 billion of taxpayers money through COVID fraud, they should get a grip. Hard pressed residents need a real plan from the Prime Minister to tackle this Cost of Living crisis. This Council Tax rebate is an embarrassment. ”