Redcar Lib Dems protest against Council Tax rise

On Saturday, local Liberal Democrats, including MP Ian Swales, took to the streets to oppose the Council’s unfair plan to increase Council tax by 3.5% this year.

Redcar and Cleveland Council plans to turn down a grant of nearly £1.5 million from the Coalition Government to freeze council tax, and to raise it by 3.5% instead - increasing the burden on local people.

Liberal Democrats in Redcar have launched a petition to put pressure on the Council’s ruling Labour Group to think again. So far they have obtained over a thousand signatures, with more and more people signing up every day online through Ian Swales’ website. On Saturday they collected over 500 more signatures in less than two hours.

Saturday’s event, which was supported by the Tax Payers’ Alliance, attracted the attention of hundreds of people who object to the Council’s intention to turn down Government money in favour of taxing local people.

Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader, Glyn Nightingale commented:

“The support we received on Saturday was overwhelming.

“It should send a clear message to the Labour-run Council that this is not the time to increase the burden of tax on local people – especially when offered a credible alternative by the Coalition Government.

“Recent internal and external audits of the Council’s finances have revealed poor economic management – it is not acceptable to make working people pay for the Council’s financial incompetence.”