BREED HAILS LOWEST CARADON COUNCIL TAX RISE AS MP

2.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 25th Jan 2008

Cllrs Joyce Mepsted and Bryan Preston campaign in Saltash with Colin Breed MP to put and end to Council Tax

Colin Breed, MP for South East Cornwall, has praised last week's Liberal Democrat budget for Caradon District Council as a "remarkable turn-around" for the Council.

Under the Liberal Democrat budget Caradon District Council's Council Tax increase will be only 2.75%, well below the national average (4.2% in 2007) and nearly half the rise for 2006/2007, before the Liberal Democrats took control.

Mr Breed said: "This goes to show - the Liberal Democrats deliver on their promises. South East Cornwall is used to seeing massive council tax rises, an average of over 7% for the last ten years. The Liberal Democrats took control of Caradon last year, more than halved the average council tax rise, cut bureaucracy and really turned this council around."

"For years I have campaigned for an end to council tax. Until the government puts an end to a tax which hits worst off the hardest, the Liberal Democrats will fight to keep it as low as possible."

"I am disappointed that not only have local Conservatives spoken out in support of the unfair Council Tax, but last week they voted against this budget, which gives local people the best Council Tax rate for years."