Liberal Democrat attempts to freeze the council tax were blocked last night by Labour who hijacked the budget and imposed a 2.5% rise on hard-pressed Islington residents struggling through the recession.  This is inner London’s highest council tax rise. 

The move was fiercely opposed by the Liberal Democrat administration who have received hundreds of letters from struggling residents who back the Liberal Democrat proposal to freeze Islington’s council tax and protect frontline services. 

Labour took political advantage from a personal misfortune, when a Liberal Democrat councillor was rushed into hospital earlier in the day for an emergency procedure so was not present.  But Labour refused to defer the decision until she recovered. 

Islington Council Leader, James Kempton (Liberal Democrat), said:”When times are hard, all Islington residents need money in their pockets.  That’s why the Liberal Democrats wanted to see a council tax freeze this year. We worked hard to deliver value for money, with no cuts to front line services.   

“But Labour seems hell-bent on squeezing more council tax out of hard-pressed residents who are already suffering from the worst recession in 100 years.

“Liberal Democrats have kept their promise every year to keep council tax below the London average.  Residents trust us to keep their bills low while improving services and back our campaign for a council tax freeze in droves.

“But Labour doesn’t seem to care about residents except for wanting to get their hands on more of their hard-earned cash.  As if Gordon Brown hasn’t done enough damage already, here we have Labour locally rubbing salt into the wound.

“Ten years ago Labour saddled residents with the highest council tax in London.  Labour’s council tax hike shows what would happen if Labour ever took back control of the council again.” 

 Islington has been in no overall control since 2006 with 23 Liberal Democrats, 23 Labour, 1 Green and 1 former Lib Dem now sitting as an Independent.  All Labour councillors and the Independent voted for the council tax rise and the Green councillor abstained.   

The 2.5% rise means a rise of about £50 to band H council tax payers 

Amongst Labours high spend proposals now adopted were free school meals for all primary school kids. In fact, about half of all families qualify under the Governments mean-tested scheme, so the “winners” here are the wealthier residents with children of the right age-including London Mayor Boris Johnson!  Another idea was for a £100 rebate for pensioners-again, not means tested, and of benefit to rich and poor alike.

These ideas from Islington Labour have embarrassed Labour nationally, as these proposals are not party policy, and heaped embarrassment on neighbouring Labour Boroughs such as Haringey, whose lead member for children ridiculed the idea of a free school meal policy there. 

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat cllr Donna Boffa remains desperately ill in hospital, where colleagues have visited and sent cards and flowers. By contrast, after the meeting, jubilant Labour councillors were slapping themselves on the back and addressing each other triumphantly as “ Comrade” in a vivid throwback to the bad old days when Islington was a “looney left” Labour Borough.

Sign our petition

by clicking here

Local Lib Dem Councillors were shocked to learn that First are planning to close the ticket office at Drayton Park. The plans were revealed when First started asking people who use the station for their views on the potential closure of the ticket office. Local Lib Dem councillors have launched a petition against the closure of the ticket office.

In response they have set up an online petition: to sign it click here

Laura Willoughby, Councillor for Highbury East comments:
“I’m concerned about the impact this will have on the use of the station, this can’t be good security and will make the station less safe for travellers. The closure of this ticket office is the thin end of the wedge and could be the first step towards closing the station. That’s why I will be raising this issue at the East Area Committee meeting.”“This is outrageous, its’ bad enough that the ticket office is only open until lunch time on weekdays, now they want to close it altogether! People pay a lot of money to travel on First trains they should at least be able to have somewhere to buy their tickets instead of having to rely on machines which aren’t always reliable and can break down.”Currently the ticket office is open from 06.30 to 13.00 Monday to Friday.