To be scared about how we will cope with more tax rises - council tax

[partytimed]

i really loathe this government. Usually with politics I feel like whoever is in charge I don’t notice much of a direct impact on my day to day life. Yes I’m aware of slow erosions in public services and I was no fan at all of the tories, I voted for this government im ashamed to say, and they lied and lied about their plans. I am so much worse off and if they double council tax bands virtually all of our disposable income is going to be gone. It feels like theft. I don’t trust them to spend the money I make properly it all feels corrupt and it’s just so depressing and upsetting.

Many are in agreement, it's awful

Are they planning on doubling council tax?

This will be catastrophic for many

We are considerably worse off thanks to this Labour government. I don’t see how they can continue to bleed us.

Many are worried about the upcoming budget. You’re not alone.

They are planning on doubling council tax for the higher bands. For people in London and other expensive areas or people whose homes have gone up in value it’s going to be awful. We are already struggling to pay our huge council tax bill on a 3 bed semi home in the south east and if they announce these plans that’s another £3,600 a year we have to hand over, more than a month of my salary. I simply can’t afford it.

Our water bill has doubled. £800 a year now. (Thames Water)

They’re driving us into the ground. They’ve only been in power for 14 months and we are so much worse off. We aren’t well off people, it seems like they want to take everything we have and redistribute it.

I feel the same way, we are already having to find a “spare” £1500 per month for uni costs for our dc’s who are at uni with minimum loans.

We have completely cut back our lifestyle to do this, including no abroad holiday this year or hardly ever eating out or going on days out.

There is no way we could manage with double council tax ontop of this and mortgage

But if they bring it in and we can’t afford to pay it what do we do? I wouldn’t make a purchase like that because I don’t have the money - how is it fair that the government can suddenly demand it it’s not like it’s creaming off earnings, we are just expected to magic it out of thin air?

You are completely right , i have no trust in them either ,i actually feel a little afraid of what is to come.
My household income has risen over the years ,we are sensible with budgeting but i have never had so little left at the end of each month as i do now.
I am astounded with how they raise the council tax every year with a 'tough shit' attitude whilst reducing services, i just don't know how they think they can get away with it ,where do they think we will continue to 'magic' the money from?

My council tax is already £320 pcm. If it goes to £640 I’m fucked. Service charge also doubled during Covid and of course will never receed now. Water bill is now £100 PCM (Thames water) up from about £25. It just doesn’t fucking stop. Maybe there will be poll tax style riots

I’m really worried about the proposed council tax rises. We’re in band G so would be affected. We already pay over £400 a month and we really couldn’t absorb that doubling. We’ve only just moved into this house and we’ve literally put everything into this move. We both grew up in poverty and have worked our way into a position where we could afford our dream house and provide for our son’s future.
We’re being completely fucked over by this government.

But if people voted for Chagos reparations, Annington buy back, digital ID, Ukraine support, NHS boost, net zero etc etc then the money has to come from UK tax payers, sadly.

Completely agree OP. My local council is corrupt and useless, a huge number of locals agree. Paying even more for them to waste on pointless ill thought out schemes is beyond depressing.

The answer is collective action and massive non payment of CT but nobody seems to know how or where to start.

Anyone got any ideas?

What band are you in as I thought it was from band F?

The Labour perspective has always been that it doesn't matter if the poor get poorer so long as the rich don't get richer. Always has been and always will be.

If I could offer some comfort- if you think tax rises are bad under Labour then they would be into orbit under the Greens.

Delaying the budget by so long appears to have caused the people of the UK to go into their own personal doom spirals, fuelled by press rumours.

They should have done it on time.

£800 a month in council tax is insane - in recent memory that would have been seen as quite a sizeable mortgage…!

The speculation is that it’ll double only for bands G and H.

Also lumping more on businesses especially small firms who are struggling as it is. Meaning more lay offs and more on benefits… well done Labour!

That would have required them to have had a plan ;)

It’s astounding that nearly a year and a half since they won the election they don’t have a coherent plan, never mind policies, to deliver anything. The milestones have been abandoned. The Missions have been abandoned. The manifesto pledges have been abandoned. Oh, and the claim to be grown ups has been blown out of the water

There is a huge disparity with council tax across the country. A band G Westminster property pays less than £1700 per year. The same band property in Rutland pays just under £4500. This policy would disproportionately affect those living in higher council tax areas.

It’s only for the very highest bands - G and H - from what I’ve read, not everyone (or even the majority)

Quite a big deal for your council tax to double overnight though, even for those with band F or G properties.