• Haringey ‘Leaders conference’ document reveals that band D tax set to rise by 17.8% this year
• Increase is likely to be 15% next year
• Labour accused of cynicism by holding tax levels down before election

Liberal Democrats have condemned new figures that confirm Haringey Labour plans an 18% increase in the council tax this year, and accused the party of cynical politicking over council tax levels in the borough. The move follows estimates of a 17.8% rise in the Labour council’s own documents, prepared for the ‘Leaders conference’ on 7 January.

The Lib Dems, who have been warning for months that Labour were planning substantial increases, say that figures in the Labour council document show that council tax levels are set to increase by over 50% over the four year life of the council.

The Lib Dems say that Labour have deceived Haringey’s voters, by fixing low increases and claming financial stability in order to limit their losses to the Lib Dems last May. Now that the elections are over, Labour are pushing through enormous increases.

Lib Dem Leader Ross Laird comments:

“Now we know what the huge level of council tax increases are likely to be, it is clear just how much local people have been misled by this Labour council. An increase of 18% will be a terrible blow, and will take the council tax to one of the highest in London. Haringey will not get away with this again.”