David Ruffley MP today warned that council taxes were soaring by four times the rate of inflation across St Edmundsbury and Mid Suffolk. Conservatives, nationally, have launched an online council tax calculator to allow the public to search by postcode how much council taxes have soared since 1997, and unveiled a 'virtual poster' for download on the internet. (www.conservatives.com/counciltax)

David said: 'Taxes have soared under Labour, without the improvements in public services that we all want to see. Council taxes have risen by around three times the rate of inflation every year since 1997. Come April, local residents across the country will face an average council tax hike of four times the rate of inflation, as well as smaller wage packets thanks to the increase in National Insurance. This is the fault of central Government and local councils not focussing on priorities. Under the last Conservative Government, council taxes in St Edmundsbury only rose by £137 and Mid Suffolk by £168 on Band D; under a Labour government, St Edmundsbury has risen by £338 and Mid Suffolk by £323, with further hikes expected in April.

'The Labour Government is taxing and borrowing more and more in order to spend massive amounts on unreformed public services. People are still being left behind by Labour's failing approach to health care and education. Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket and Needham Market residents are now being hit in the wallet to pay for it.'