Local Liberal Democrats, the Official Opposition on Haringey Council, have reacted angrily to news that Labour is planning an inflation-busting council tax rise.Labour-run Haringey Council is planning a 9.1% increase to council tax on top of a 2.5% allowance for inflation, which will be discussed at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on Monday September 2nd.

“The people of Haringey have been led up the garden path by Labour,” said Lib Dem Deputy Leader Ross Laird. “In 1998, they made promises on council tax and broke them. During this year’s elections, they kept their mouths shut and kept the voters in the dark. Now we are seeing why they didn’t tell the voters their plans before the election.

“Labour have got away with this deception over council tax for two elections – but local residents will not let them get away with it next time,” he said. “We all have the right to expect honesty and transparency from our councillors, but it seems that Haringey Labour simply do not care what residents think.”

If Labour get their way with the proposed tax hike, the end effect for taxpayers is likely to be even worse. The 9.1% applies to the Haringey part of council tax. The GLA precept – money that is used to fund the Greater London Authority – is additional. With that likely to rise, local residents will be hit very hard next year.