Labour-led Cheshire East Council’s bid to raise council tax by an eye-watering 9.9% without a public referendum is an attack on democracy. Asking government for permission to bypass residents – the very people footing the bill – shows contempt for the basic principles of accountability and public consent.
Labour’s excuse? An £18.3m funding gap. But this financial crisis is years in the making, fuelled by poor planning, vanity projects and political finger-pointing. Labour councillors blame the Conservative-led council for freezing tax rises over a decade ago, but Labour have run the council since 2019. Enough of the blame game—residents deserve solutions, not scapegoats.
Conservative opposition councillors are right to call this tax hike “excessive,” especially as it hits low-income families hardest. Even senior Labour councillors admit the rise is equivalent to a child’s school dinner money – money many families simply don’t have to spare in today’s economic climate (not helped by the Chancellor’s recent budget). How can the council justify side-stepping a referendum when it knows the cost of living is already crushing households?
This isn’t just about the money—it’s about democracy. Councils cannot legally raised Council Tax over 4.99% without holding a referendum. The power to approve such a massive tax hike should rest with the residents, not be handed to a council that has failed to manage its finances responsibly. By bypassing a local vote, Cheshire East Council risks eroding trust and alienating the very people it should serve.
Cheshire East’s leaders must remember: democracy isn’t an inconvenience – it’s a basic duty.
