David Ruffley MP is continuing his campaign to highlight the Government's decision to continue to raise council tax in Suffolk. The information was unearthed by David Ruffley after he wrote to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister asking for details of the dramatic rises.

Council tax figures for the whole of England expose that across the country, council taxes are again rising by four times the rate of inflation (an average of 13 per cent).

In Mid Suffolk council tax will be £1,151 for the forthcoming year on Band D bills, compared to £651 in 1997- an increase of £500 since the Labour Government came to power. In St Edmundsbury council tax will be £1158 for the forthcoming year on Band D bills, compared to £636 in 1997- an increase of £522 since the Labour Government came to power. By contrast, under the last Conservative administration, council tax bills only rose by £168 in Mid Suffolk and by £137 in St Edmundsbury. David Ruffley said,'Council tax is soaring, yet again. The Labour Government have turned council tax into a stealth tax, hammering middle England. In my constituency residents are paying over £500 more on Band D bills since 1997. Across the country, the typical household is paying £413 extra.'