Keir Starmer's refusal to rule out council tax increase sparks controversy at PMQs

Fiery exchange over potential council tax hike

In a heated Prime Minister's Questions session, Sir Keir Starmer faced backlash after refusing to rule out the possibility of increasing council tax for English households. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch demanded clarity on the issue, accusing the PM of planning another tax raid despite previous promises.

Opposition accuses government of secret tax plans

The Tories raised concerns that ministers were secretly planning to raise council tax by a substantial £2.4 billion, potentially leading to an average increase of £143 for properties in band D. The update on council tax caps is expected to be revealed in February next year, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the issue.

Care homes and social care funding gap

During the exchange, Ms. Badenoch also criticized Sir Keir for not exempting care homes from the Budget's national insurance raid, highlighting a potential gap in social care funding. In response, the PM mentioned an additional £600 million allocated for local authorities in the Budget to address any funding shortages.

Despite pledges made by Labour to freeze council tax caps in their first year of government, Sir Keir's refusal to confirm or deny a potential increase has sparked controversy and raised concerns among English households.