Labour's 14% a year Council Tax hikes

11.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Apr 2008

Southwark Council Taxpayers have faced an average 14% a year tax rise from Labour Members of the Greater London Authority.

Working with Labour Mayor Ken Livingstone, Labour's Assembly Members have backed big rises in the "GLA Precept" charged on Council Tax bills. Rises have been much bigger than inflation and have ranged as high as 29% in one year.

"It's no surprise Ken Livingstone wants to put taxes up again and again," said Cllr Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem GLA candidate for Lambeth & Southwark.

"But the Assembly is there to watch over him and stop him when he goes too far. Yet Labour members of the Assembly have let him get away with one outrageous tax hike after another. They are just not doing their job properly."

Southwark Council's Lib Dem-led Administration has kept average Council Tax rises below inflation.