Starmer declines to rule out council tax rise.

This is just like the rest of the summer's scaremongering.

Journalist comes along with provocative question "will you be doing this, that or the other".

Government answers in the only way it can, that it can't predict the future or rule this or that in or out.

Who can tell what the situation is going to be especially on care provision in 2/3 years time?

We get our council tax bill in 4 months’ time. 🤣

Breaking News:

“ The average family will see council tax bills go up by more than £100 in April, the Government has announced.

The Prime Minister’s press secretary announced that town halls will be told they can put up the levy by as much as 5 per cent next year - almost three times the rate of inflation.

Across England this year, the average band D council tax bill stands at £2,171.

The Government’s decision means local authorities will be able to increase the band D levy by up to £109 next year.

Downing Street was forced to clarify its council tax policy after Kemi Badenoch grilled Sir Keir Starmer on the subject at Prime Minister’s Questions.

Mrs Badenoch had asked Sir Keir whether the current 5 per cent cap on council tax rises would be maintained but he dodged the question. No 10 subsequently said the cap would be kept as it is.”

Source the Telegraph, just now.

The same as the current year rise then?

‘ The average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England for 2024-25 will be £2,171, which is an increase of £106 or 5.1% on the 2023-24 figure of £2,065. This includes all precepts including adult social care and parish precepts.8 May 2024’
www.gov.uk › statistics › c...
Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2024 to 2025 (revised) - GOV.UK

"Mrs Badenoch had asked Sir Keir whether the current 5 per cent cap on council tax rises would be maintained but he dodged the question. No 10 subsequently said the cap would be kept as it is.”

So whats the problem? The cap remains and its as it has previously been, up to local councils. I'm just so aware FGT of the people in my own family who need help - an MiL who needs carers and there aren't enough, unless you can pay privately

I'm thinking of my dearest GD, who. has multiple disabilities and relies non special schools, and the taxi services to get here there, I'm thinking of the support our council struggles to give to family centres, which try to maintain the "Sure Start" facilities, and gives support to food banks.

Its all very well for Badenoch to stand up and ask oh so clever catch them out questions at PMQ, but lets start from actual real people and real needs.

Kemi Badenoch grilled Sir Keir Starmer on the subject at Prime Minister’s Questions

Interesting use of the word ‘grilled’ by The Telegraph. I’ve seen more ‘grilling’ in the kids’ toy kitchen!

Everything seems to be getting worse with labour it's not scare Mongering they weren't supposed to
be increasing tax

They aren't, TakeThat7. Read up thread.

First he came for the pensioners
Then he came for the drinkers and smokers
Then he came for the businesses NI payments
Then he came for wealthy landowners buildings for asylum seekers
Then he came for countryside lovers building houses on land
Then he came for the EV owners road tax
Then he came for the students raising fees
Then he came for all people scrapping subsidy on fuel
Then he came for the private school kids VAT on fees
Then he came for farmers family grieving their parents death inheritance tax
And now he's coming for everyone rich and poor raising council tax.
Worst PM in living history

Then he sought to pay for schools, whose premises are falling down and teacher shortages.

Then he sought to give more money for councils for care support.

Then he sought to help those on minimum wage or zero contact hours.

Then he sought to give decent maternity leave

Then he sought to begin to make politics to save the planet

Then he sought to begin the task of helping our NHS, and bring in public health measures.

Then he sought to build more affordable homes and that might sometimes mean changing planing regs

Then he sought to help higher education by a very minimal rise in student fees after 7 years of stagnation

Then he sought to repair relationships with Europe for better trading.....

and if councils have to over the next few years raise money for my Mil's carers or my DGD's very special needs care, or all the other people needing help, within an already agreed cap, then I will pay up, although my resources are slim.

TakeThat7

Everything seems to be getting worse with labour it's not scare Mongering they weren't supposed to
be increasing tax

Labour hasn't increased my tax.

sazz1

First he came for the pensioners
Then he came for the drinkers and smokers
Then he came for the businesses NI payments
Then he came for wealthy landowners buildings for asylum seekers
Then he came for countryside lovers building houses on land
Then he came for the EV owners road tax
Then he came for the students raising fees
Then he came for all people scrapping subsidy on fuel
Then he came for the private school kids VAT on fees
Then he came for farmers family grieving their parents death inheritance tax
And now he's coming for everyone rich and poor raising council tax.
Worst PM in living history

How's he coming for the poor?

Quite honestly, I'm not shedding tears about coming for the rich.

Wyllow3

Then he sought to pay for schools, whose premises are falling down and teacher shortages.

Then he sought to give more money for councils for care support.

Then he sought to help those on minimum wage or zero contact hours.

Then he sought to give decent maternity leave

Then he sought to begin to make politics to save the planet

Then he sought to begin the task of helping our NHS, and bring in public health measures.

Then he sought to build more affordable homes and that might sometimes mean changing planing regs

Then he sought to help higher education by a very minimal rise in student fees after 7 years of stagnation

Then he sought to repair relationships with Europe for better trading.....

and if councils have to over the next few years raise money for my Mil's carers or my DGD's very special needs care, or all the other people needing help, within an already agreed cap, then I will pay up, although my resources are slim.

I wonder who those who contribute to threads about care needs think should pay for them.

People grumble about paying but grumble about lack of services.

Wyllow3

People grumble about paying but grumble about lack of services.

I'm beginning to think people would grumble if they had nothing to grumble about.

Wyllow3

They aren't, TakeThat7. Read up thread.

They are. Read any rational item re this, the rise in NI employers contributions will have a direct effect on business and employees, and of course customers. It's a hidden tax, slyly done by an increasingly sly gov.

growstuff

sazz1

First he came for the pensioners
Then he came for the drinkers and smokers
Then he came for the businesses NI payments
Then he came for wealthy landowners buildings for asylum seekers
Then he came for countryside lovers building houses on land
Then he came for the EV owners road tax
Then he came for the students raising fees
Then he came for all people scrapping subsidy on fuel
Then he came for the private school kids VAT on fees
Then he came for farmers family grieving their parents death inheritance tax
And now he's coming for everyone rich and poor raising council tax.
Worst PM in living history

How's he coming for the poor?

Quite honestly, I'm not shedding tears about coming for the rich.

Not everyone on that list is rich. The Labour Party haven't thought through some of their suggestions. Private school VAT being the main one for me.

I would be happy to pay more council tax. It’s been too low for too long. They are wanting to close our library

When a four bed detached home opposite me pays less than I do in council tax. The whole thing needs reviewing, my two bed terrace pays also more than a three bed terrace a few miles away. Anomalies need sorting, every single person who uses public services should contribute. Of course they don't want to, hence the failure of the poll tax.

Yes, we need a proper revaluation and a proper land tax.

Wheniwasyourage

I would be happy to pay more council tax. It’s been too low for too long. They are wanting to close our library

Our council tax is not low at all, it is over £300 per month, it is a huge part of our monthly outgoings and I, for one, do not want to have to pay any more.

Depends where you live, doesn’t it?

Most councils are strapped for cash and can’t afford their statutory services.

Sarnia

growstuff

sazz1

First he came for the pensioners
Then he came for the drinkers and smokers
Then he came for the businesses NI payments
Then he came for wealthy landowners buildings for asylum seekers
Then he came for countryside lovers building houses on land
Then he came for the EV owners road tax
Then he came for the students raising fees
Then he came for all people scrapping subsidy on fuel
Then he came for the private school kids VAT on fees
Then he came for farmers family grieving their parents death inheritance tax
And now he's coming for everyone rich and poor raising council tax.
Worst PM in living history

How's he coming for the poor?

Quite honestly, I'm not shedding tears about coming for the rich.

Not everyone on that list is rich. The Labour Party haven't thought through some of their suggestions. Private school VAT being the main one for me.

Many of them are, so why include them? It sort of destroys the aim of the 'poem'.