Labour could lumber Middle England with 14 council tax bands, forcing families to pay thousands of pounds more a year, Sir James Cleverly warned last night.
The Conservative housing spokesman accused Labour of a ‘Left-wing plot for higher council tax’ that could leave households in the top band forking out almost nine times more than those in the lowest.
A potential council tax revaluation could mirror ‘progressive’ proposals in Wales and Scotland, with the Tories warning: ‘Middle-class areas would be particularly hit.’
At the moment, there are eight bands in Britain – A to H, with an extra one in Wales. But last month, the Scottish government revealed plans for a 14-band model.
The Tories warn that if this was mirrored in England, band K would pay 4.2 times the current band D council tax of £2,280 – or £9,626, band J would pay £8,361, and band I would pay £7,346.
The Labour Government in Wales is also undertaking a council tax revaluation and exploring similar proposals to add additional bands as well as higher multipliers in them.
A Welsh government consultation in 2023 proposed a 12-band model, with households in the highest band paying nine times more than those in the lowest one.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously described the Welsh Labour government as providing a ‘blueprint for what Labour can do across the UK’.
A potential council tax revaluation could mirror ‘progressive’ proposals in Wales and Scotland, with the Tories warning: ‘Middle-class areas would be particularly hit’ (file image)
The Labour Government in Wales is also undertaking a council tax revaluation and exploring similar proposals to add additional bands as well as higher multipliers in them (file image)
Last night, Mr Cleverly warned that Chancellor Rachel Reeves was after more money from ‘ordinary people’, adding: ‘When it comes to council tax, the SNP and Labour are a match made in heaven. However much they hike it, they can’t get enough.
‘Scotland’s council tax consultation is a Left-wing blueprint for how to tax the middle class. Meanwhile, Labour are planning higher bands and a revaluation in Wales.
‘Rachel Reeves is scrabbling around for ways to take more of ordinary people’s money ahead of the Budget. What’s being planned in Scotland and Wales is clearly on the table for Middle England too.’
Council tax bands are graded according to property values in April 1991. Councils set bills within these bands.
The Chancellor has been urged by the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank to double council tax bills for bands G and H, taking the respective average annual bills to £7,600 and £9,120.
Ms Reeves is also said to be considering an annual mansion tax. The Government said it had ‘no plans to change council tax bands in England to mirror those proposed in Scotland or Wales’.
