10/03/05 Labour MP Corrected By Conservative Council Leader

Swindon Short Changed By Labour

The Editor - Evening Advertiser

Dear Sir,

RE - LETTER FROM MICHAEL WILLS MP, SATURDAY 5^TH MARCH 2005

I was very surprised indeed to see Michael Wills’ letter in the Evening Advertiser on Saturday 5^th March, asking how anyone could claim that the Labour Government is “cheating Swindon”. There are a few facts that Mr Wills has overlooked.

I will tell your readers exactly how this Labour Government has cheated Swindon. In 1997/98, the Band D Council Tax bill in Swindon was £606. This year it is £1,131, a rise of £525 or a massive Labour hit of 87% in just 7 years, while the cost of living has risen by only 22% over the same period. This has hit the elderly hardest, with over half the increase in their state pension being swallowed up by higher council tax.

The Conservatives have set a 3% rise in Council Tax for next year. We know the benefit of a lower Council Tax Bill for those on low and fixed incomes. In the first year, if elected, Conservatives will halve Council Tax for millions of pensioners over 65, to a maximum of £500 off per household, funded by central government.

But since 1997, the gap between Swindon’s grant from Government and the national average has widened. The increase in grant for Swindon for 2005/6 was 5.6% (7.1 million) against a national average for the country as a whole of 6.2%. So for the third consecutive year, Swindon has lost out, and has not got its share of the government pot. When measured against other similar authorities the gap is really alarming:

Swindon’s funding up by             5.6%
Milton Keynes                          11.5%
Wiltshire                                  9.4%
South Gloucestershire          9.4%

Swindon deserves a fair settlement and not to be short-changed by Labour.

Yours faithfully,

Councillor Mike Bawden

Leader of the Council