York Labour’s Council Tax Dilemma

York’s Labour Party are currently preparing their budget ahead of next week’s local government finance settlement. This is the first budget the York Labour group will put forward following the election of their party to government. 

In the 2023 Local Council Election, Councillor Claire Douglas promised residents a Council Tax Freeze, saying:

“York needs a Labour-run council to freeze your council tax”. 

After the election, Councillor Claire Douglas changed her statement saying:

“That was a national Labour Party commitment from Keir Starmer that was made in March 2023 to launch the local election campaign from our national party.

“He committed that if Labour was in government they would freeze council tax for a year and so that’s where it came from.” 

York Liberal Democrat Finance, Performance and Major Projects Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Healey said:

“York Labour’s Council bosses have a huge decision to make on Council Tax. They now have the national government; residents will now expect to see Labour live up to their promises on a Council Tax freeze.

“It will be interesting to see how they manage to freeze Council tax with a lower than inflation settlement from their Westminster bosses. This is at a time where Adult Social Care costs are ballooning due to York Labour’s cuts in early intervention and their National Insurance increase.

“If they do break this pledge, when they have control of the Council, the York and North Yorkshire Mayor, both of York’s MPs and the government then residents will never believe another word they say.”