Reform UK's Council Tax Pledge Betrayed as Election Promises Fall by the Wayside
The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage's party, has been accused of "betraying" election promises to cut council tax after several councils it controls announced they plan to increase rates close to the maximum allowed. Kent county council, considered a flagship local authority for the party, has proposed a 3.99% rise, while four other county councils controlled by Reform – Derbyshire, North Northamptonshire, West Northamptonshire, and Leicestershire – have all announced 5% increases, the legal maximum.
The opposition Liberal Democrats in Kent council accused Reform of financial mismanagement and a "total betrayal" of their election promises. Despite campaigning on a platform of tax cuts, the party's budget will see the average Band D household pay an additional £67.47 per year. The Liberal Democrat leader, Anthony Hook, described this as a "poor outcome given the hype and promises made at the election and for the last nine months."
Labour councillor Alister Brady said Reform should be honest with the public about their overspending. The party's handling of council budgets has been compared to that of previous administrations, which have struggled to make ends meet.
The proposed increases are a far cry from Reform's original promises to cut or freeze council tax. Councillors in Kent accused the party of "fucking suck it up" during an internal meeting earlier this year. The budget is set to be voted on next month, with Reform still holding a significant majority despite a series of defections and ejections.
Tony Travers, visiting professor at the LSE's department of government, noted that few councils have managed to achieve significantly lower increases, suggesting that there may not be an "efficient Reform way" of filling potholes.
The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage's party, has been accused of "betraying" election promises to cut council tax after several councils it controls announced they plan to increase rates close to the maximum allowed. Kent county council, considered a flagship local authority for the party, has proposed a 3.99% rise, while four other county councils controlled by Reform – Derbyshire, North Northamptonshire, West Northamptonshire, and Leicestershire – have all announced 5% increases, the legal maximum.
The opposition Liberal Democrats in Kent council accused Reform of financial mismanagement and a "total betrayal" of their election promises. Despite campaigning on a platform of tax cuts, the party's budget will see the average Band D household pay an additional £67.47 per year. The Liberal Democrat leader, Anthony Hook, described this as a "poor outcome given the hype and promises made at the election and for the last nine months."
Labour councillor Alister Brady said Reform should be honest with the public about their overspending. The party's handling of council budgets has been compared to that of previous administrations, which have struggled to make ends meet.
The proposed increases are a far cry from Reform's original promises to cut or freeze council tax. Councillors in Kent accused the party of "fucking suck it up" during an internal meeting earlier this year. The budget is set to be voted on next month, with Reform still holding a significant majority despite a series of defections and ejections.
Tony Travers, visiting professor at the LSE's department of government, noted that few councils have managed to achieve significantly lower increases, suggesting that there may not be an "efficient Reform way" of filling potholes.
I'm not buying it 
. Reform UK knew full well they were taking a gamble on tax cuts and now they're trying to pawn off these massive increases as 'necessary' 
. It's just basic math, folks 
. If they can't cut council tax like they promised, then what's the point of even having those promises? 
It's a classic case of 'we'll worry about it later' 
. And don't even get me started on the £67.47 
per year that's being slapped on Band D households. That's not tax reduction, that's just a nice way to say 'you're getting fleeced' 
. I need to see some real evidence and transparency from Reform UK before I believe their spin 
. Otherwise, it's just more of the same old empty promises 
.
I'm really disappointed in what's happening with the council tax in UK. Nigel Farage and his party made a big promise to cut taxes, but it looks like they just can't keep their word 
. A 3.99% increase in one county and 5% in four others? That's not exactly what I'd call "tax cuts" 
. And Tony Travers makes a good point too - it's not like there's some magical way for councils to fill potholes without spending any money 
.
.
.
. It's not exactly transparent when you're making promises one way and delivering another 
.
they were counting on reform uk to sort out their council tax probs but now its like "sod it u gotta pay more" 
It's like they're trying to create their own little music or something! Anyway, back to council tax... I mean, can't these politicians just stick to what they say they'll do? It's not that hard, right? 
! So, Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party promised to cut council tax, but now they're just gonna make us pay even more 
Was there some hidden agenda all along? Did Farage just promise something he had no intention of keeping? 