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Kemi Badenoch challenges Labour council tax cuts
Kemi Badenoch orders lawyers to challenge Labour's funding cuts that forced Tory-run Wandsworth Council to hike council tax by 94 per cent.
In brief
Kemi Badenoch orders lawyers to challenge Labour's funding cuts that forced Tory-run Wandsworth Council to hike council tax by 94 per cent. Kemi Badenoch has instructed lawyers to challenge Labour's funding cuts that forced Wandsworth Council to increase council tax by 94 per cent. Originally reported by Dailymail.
Kemi Badenoch orders lawyers
Kemi Badenoch instructed lawyers to challenge Government cuts which Tory-run Wandsworth Council says has forced it to increase council tax by 94 per cent.
“Kemi Badenoch last night instructed lawyers to challenge Government cuts which Tory-run Wandsworth Council says has forced it to increase council tax by 94 per cent”
Tory leader calls it outrageous
Kemi Badenoch said it was 'outrageous' that the council tax was increasing so much but said it was due to 40 per cent cuts to their funding by Labour.
“Kemi Badenoch said it was 'outrageous' that the council tax in Wandsworth was increasing so much but said it was due to 40 per cent cuts to their funding by Labour”
Council tax hike details
Wandsworth Council announced a 94 per cent rise in council tax earlier this week, hitting residents with £1,020 annual tax split equally between council and Mayor of London.
“Tory-run Wandsworth Council announced a 94 per cent rise in its council tax earlier this week”
Financial gap explained
The council faces a £137 million gap in finances after Labour's 40 per cent funding cuts, with the previous administration using reserves to balance the budget.
“Ms Badenoch said the Government had left Wandsworth Council, which it lost to the Tories in May after running it for just one term, with a 'historic' £137 million gap in its finances”
Budget shortfall impact
The council tax would have to increase by more than 230 per cent to balance the books without urgent action, according to a spending review.
“The report claimed that the previous Labour administration had used reserves to balance the budget, had increased staff by 14 per cent since taking over in 2022 and had spent and borrowed millions more without increasing revenue”
Current tax burden
Residents currently pay £1,020 a year for Band D council tax, with the council's £510 share surging by £958 while the Mayor's portion stays unchanged.
“Residents in the borough currently pay £1,020 a year for Band D council tax - split equally between the council and the Mayor of London”
Tax increase consequence
The total council tax bill will almost double to £1,978 per year, hitting household budgets with the 94 per cent hike.
“Under the plans, the council's £510 share would surge by £958 while the Mayor's portion stays unchanged. This means the total bill will almost double to £1,978”
Political blame
Kemi Badenoch blamed Housing Secretary Angela Rayner's reforms that give more money to Labour-voting areas in the north.
“Ms Badenoch said it was 'outrageous' that the council tax in Wandsworth was increasing so much but said it was due to 40 per cent cuts to their funding by Labour”
Historic funding gap
Wandsworth Council inherited 'the largest government cuts, the largest projected overspending and the largest predicted budget gap in Wandsworth's history'.
“The report claimed that the previous Labour administration had used reserves to balance the budget, had increased staff by 14 per cent since taking over in 2022 and had spent and borrowed millions more without increasing revenue”
Labour's funding impact
Labour's 40 per cent funding cuts have left Wandsworth Council with a historic £137 million gap in finances after just one term in power.
“Ms Badenoch said the Government had left Wandsworth Council, which it lost to the Tories in May after running it for just one term, with a 'historic' £137 million gap in its finances”
Council tax hike impact
The council tax increase would hit family budgets and is unfair to punish homeowners for not voting Labour.
“She said the nearly 100 per cent increase would hit family budgets and it wasn't fair to punish homeowners for not voting Labour”
Tory council response
Tory-run Wandsworth Council has previously been 'synonymous with low council tax' but Labour ministers saw it as a problem, not a positive.
“The report claimed that the previous Labour administration had used reserves to balance the budget, had increased staff by 14 per cent since taking over in 2022 and had spent and borrowed millions more without increasing revenue”
Political challenge
Kemi Badenoch said the Conservative Party would challenge the decision in court because of the principle behind it.
“She said the Conservative Party would challenge the decision in court because of the principle behind it”
Funding cuts explanation
Labour's 40 per cent funding cuts have been blamed on Housing Secretary Angela Rayner's reforms that give more money to Labour-voting areas in the north.
“Ms Badenoch said it was 'outrageous' that the council tax in Wandsworth was increasing so much but said it was due to 40 per cent cuts to their funding by Labour”
Council tax increase
The council tax increase would have to be more than 230 per cent to balance the books without urgent action, according to the spending review.
“The report claimed that the previous Labour administration had used reserves to balance the budget, had increased staff by 14 per cent since taking over in 2022 and had spent and borrowed millions more without increasing revenue”
Current tax burden
Residents currently pay £1,020 a year for Band D council tax, with the council's £510 share surging by £958 while the Mayor's portion stays unchanged.
“Residents in the borough currently pay £1,020 a year for Band D council tax - split equally between the council and the Mayor of London”
The main idea
Kemi Badenoch has instructed lawyers to challenge Labour's funding cuts that forced Wandsworth Council to increase council tax by 94 per cent.
