Keir Starmer Just Proved He Can’t Be Trusted – £2.9 Billion Council Tax Bombshell Hits Hardest

Back in 2023, when Keir Starmer was still desperate to get the keys to No.10, he made a bold promise: he wouldn’t raise council tax. Fast forward to now, and that promise has gone straight out the window. This year, council tax bills are set to soar by a staggering £2.9 billion. That’s not just a small tweak – it’s a massive blow to households already struggling with the cost of living.

And this isn’t just a one-off blip. It’s part of a much bigger pattern from Starmer. He’s binned the Winter Fuel Payment for 10 million pensioners – something he said he wouldn’t touch. He promised no extra taxes on working people, then quietly introduced what’s being dubbed a “jobs tax.” Farmers? He said he’d back them, but instead, they’re feeling the pinch from fresh taxes too, reported the Express.

The bottom line? Trusting Starmer’s pledges is starting to feel like a fool’s game. And this latest move – the council tax hike – will hit those on lower incomes the hardest. Councils are already under strain from inflation and rising service costs, but Starmer’s own political choices are making it even worse.

Labour’s borrowing has reached record-breaking levels, and that jobs tax is now squeezing local authorities – some of the UK’s biggest employers. Unless there’s serious intervention in next week’s emergency budget, things could spiral even further.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives are claiming they’re the only ones standing up to this tax-hiking trend. They’re highlighting how Tory councils are managing to deliver more while taxing less – whether that’s more frequent bin collections, faster pothole repairs, or cleaner streets overall.

And when you look at the areas hit hardest by these council tax hikes, it’s telling: eight out of the ten worst-affected places are run by Labour, with the other two under Lib Dem control.

Take Birmingham, for example – the largest local authority in Europe. Under Labour leadership, it’s teetering on the edge of financial collapse. Rubbish is reportedly piling up in the streets, and rats are becoming a common sight. But instead of fixing the mess, the Labour councillors there hiked up taxes and gave themselves a pay rise. That’s not just bad optics – it’s infuriating.

So, with local elections looming, the choice is being framed as pretty stark: Vote Labour, and get higher taxes and missed bin collections. Or vote Conservative for a council that says it’ll protect services, keep taxes down, and deliver. Come May 1, it’s your call.