Council tax rise sparks fiery assaults as Tory requested how he can hold a straight face

A Tory shadow minister was asked how he can keep a “straight face” after criticising Labour for council tax rises his party introduced.

Labour MP Clive Betts, who was chair of the Commons local government committee until May this year, hit out shadow communities minister David Simmonds for his attacks on the Government. Communities minister Matthew Pennycook also criticised the Tories brazen attacks accusing the party of having “more front than Harrods”.

A row broke out on Wednesday after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Keir Starmer of secretly planning to increase the cap on council tax rises – which was set at 5% by the Tories. Number 10 confirmed they will keep the cap and have no plans to increase the threshold by which local authorities can hike bills. Some families could see their bills rise if their council chooses to uplift council tax next year.

In a Commons debate on Thursday, Mr Simmonds accused Labour of opening up a “£2.4billion black hole in council finances” as he criticised local authorities being “deprived” of the funding they need. But Mr Betts later hit back: “I really don’t know how the opposition spokesman can stand there and talk about cuts and shortfalls with a straight face. We know where responsibility lies – and on the Lib Dem benches as well.” It prompted Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to tell him off.

Mr Pennycook said: “I completely agree with him. It actually reminds me of a phrase my nan used to say: ‘More front that Harrods’. That’s what she used to say – that’s what the opposition benches have got.”

In response to Mr Simmonds, Mr Pennycook said the Government “simply do not recognise” the Tories’ £2.4billion black hole figure. He said the Conservatives created a “mess” in local government, adding: “That’s why at the Budget we announced over £4billion in new local government funding, including an additional £1.3billion in the local government finance settlement.” He said ministers expect an additional £1.8billion to be raised through council tax in 2025/26, adding that business rates and funding connected to new homes will contribute £600million.

Councils wishing to increase tax rates by more than the up-to-5% cap are required to receive Government permission or hold a referendum. Mr Pennycook added: “The Government has been clear that it expects the threshold to be maintained at the current level set by the previous government.”

Mr Betts suggested councils might in future have the freedom to raise tax as they wish. He proposed “a conversation with councils and the public more widely about whether thresholds at all are appropriate”. Conservative MP Bob Blackman asked whether the Government had “any plans whatsoever to do a revaluation of properties” to assess which bands they fall into. English property banding is currently based on 1991 property prices.

Mr Pennycook replied: “He tempts me to discuss the Local Government Finance Settlement ahead of it being formally presented to this House. “I’m afraid I can’t do that,” he added.