Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is accused of betraying election
promises to cut council tax after several councils it controls plan
near-maximum increases.
Among them is Kent County Council, which has suggested a
3.99% increase. It is the party's flagship local authority and is seen by it as
the "shop window" for what a Reform-led government might look like.
The party also controls the county councils of Derbyshire,
North Northamptonshire, West Northamptonshire, and Leicestershire, all of which
have suggested raising council taxes by the maximum amount allowed by law 5%.
Earlier this week, Derbyshire County Council confirmed the
increase after forecasting a £38 million budget deficit due to overspending in
social care and children's social care.
On Tuesday, members of the Reform-controlled Lincolnshire
County Council were informed that a 4.99% hike was under consideration. A
public consultation will also look at other options, such as a 3.99% increase,
however that would result in a £4.1 million shortfall.
Kent's opposition council members accused Reform of
deceiving voters who had been given pamphlets by the party last year promising
to reduce or freeze council tax.
Next month, there will be a full gathering to vote on the
proposed budget. Despite a slew of defections and expulsions of its own council
members, Reform maintains a sizable majority in Kent.
Footage of a tumultuous
internal meeting where members were urged to "fucking suck it up" if
they disagreed with decisions was released to the Guardian in October, exposing
bitter disagreements among Reform council members.
Following hopes that they would be released earlier in the
week, draft budget details, including the planned increase, were released late
on Thursday night.
“When this administration took office, the council was facing a very serious financial situation. KCC was saddled with more than £700m of debt, around £84,000 was being spent every day on interest alone, and pressures on vital services were continuing to grow.
Since then, we are on track to deliver £100m of savings and income, we have reprofiled almost £40m of future spending, and we have reduced the council’s debt by £67m,”
she said.
According to Kemkaran, the draft budget's specifics
suggested raising council taxes by 3.99% rather than the 5% amount that was
projected when the present administration took office. This was accomplished
while maintaining frontline services.
On the other hand, Reform was accused of financial
mismanagement and a "total betrayal" of electoral promises by the
opposition Liberal Democrat group on the council.
“Despite campaigning on a platform of tax cuts, Reform’s budget will see the average Band D household pay roughly £67.47 more per year,”
said the Liberal Democrat leader, Anthony Hook.
“Reform stood for election promising to make savings and lower the burden on taxpayers. Today, that promise has been utterly broken. They are boasting about a nearly 4% increase instead of 5%, a difference of just 33p per week for the average Kent family. It is a poor outcome given the hype and promises made at the election and for the last nine months.”
Alister Brady, a Labour member of the council, said:
“Reform will try to deflect and mislead but the facts are
clear. During the election they said they would cut council tax but in their
first budget they have put council tax up and they will need to do that for
every year of their three-year budget because of their overspending. They
should be honest with the public.”
There was also criticism from others who had originally been
part of Kent’s ruling Reform group.
Bill Barrett, one of a number who have set up as
independents, said:
“Kemkaran may be able to say she has kept council tax rises as low as possible, but that £10m less coming in from council tax means £10m of savings that have to now be found.
Alongside the fact we are drawing down on reserves again in this budget, I really do fear for services across Kent once we delve into the details of this draft budget.”
Tony Travers, a visiting professor in the London School of
Economics’ department of government, said:
“Reform has been enduring a long and sharp learning experience in the last year about the realities of running council budgets that have been squeezed for the past 15 years.”
But he added:
“Frankly I am surprised that few, if any, have managed to achieve a figure significantly below 5% because it would have provided Farage with impressive political ammunition given their hopes of making further gains in local elections next year. Given that most of them are coming out with the maximum allowed increase it will be evidence, lest we need it, that there is no efficient ‘Reform way’ of filling a pothole.”
What reasons did Reform UK give for the tax rises?
Reform UK council leaders justify near- outside council duty
increases by pointing to inherited fiscal poverty, surging social care costs,
and inadequate central government backing, despite pre-election pledges to cut
levies.
Leaders at Kent County Council( 3.99 rise) condemn£ 37m
faults from grown-up/ child social care demands, pastoral service delivery
costs, and previous Labour Tory overspending claiming hikes guard vulnerable
services while pursuing£ 21m edge by 2027. Staffordshire matches the 3.99(£
64.71 Band D impact), prioritizing£ 5.5 m children's care boosts amid"
unsustainable" inherited debt; Derbyshire eyes 4.99 to cover analogous
gaps without service cuts.
Final budgets await February votes, with Reform arguing
financial reality trumps rigid no- rise pledges amid post-election realities.