Mark Isherwood
Figures published this morning confirm the average council tax rise in Wales is 4.1% – seven times the average rise in England, where 57% of local authorities have frozen bills.
Under Labour, average band D council tax bills in Wales have risen by over 150%.
The latest 4.1% rise will add £50 to the average council tax bill.
Some local authorities are increasing bills by three times the rate of inflation, while even the lowest increase in Wales is above the highest rise in England.
Welsh Conservatives have called for Welsh Government action to freeze council tax and introduce referendums on any rises above 2%.
Later today, Welsh Conservatives will accuse the Welsh Labour Government of hammering Welsh families with the highest council tax rises in the UK.
In a debate on council tax, Welsh Conservative AMs will criticise Carwyn Jones’ Labour Government for failing to protect families from rising bills.
Last week, it emerged that Ed Miliband’s Labour Party will keep council tax referendums in England.
Mark Isherwood AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, Communities & Housing, said, “Hardworking people in Wales have been hammered by this lazy Labour Government, which has done nothing to prevent excessive council tax rises.
“Thanks to the Conservatives, council tax bills in England have fallen in real terms for four successive years, while the introduction of referendums gives voters the final say on any excessive bill rises.
“Carwyn Jones’ Labour Party has failed hardworking people and sat idly by as bills have risen year on year, rising by over 150% since Labour came to power.
“In the coming days, people across Wales will be stung by the highest council tax rises in the UK, of up to 5%.
“Welsh Conservatives want to support and empower people by freezing bills and giving voters more of a say over how much council tax they pay.
“With council tax frozen in Scotland for the seventh year running and England for the fourth consecutive year, there is a consensus that governments should be acting to limit rising bills, yet Welsh Labour continues to do nothing.
“People in Wales will now be spending proportionately more of their salary on council tax than people in other parts of the UK.
“Welsh Conservatives are a low tax party and will continue to advocate a low tax future for Wales, taking people out of income tax, cutting stamp duty, freezing council tax bills and stimulating economic growth.”
