News

Soaring council tax under Labour leads to bailiffs and court actions in Luton

Nigel Huddleston expressed his anger and concern this week at new figures which have revealed the soaring use of court orders and bailiffs to collect council tax. Council tax bills have more than doubled across the country under Labour. In Luton, bills have risen by 123% since 1997 thanks to Labour Ministers.

New statistics show that 1.4 million households had bailiffs knocking at their door for unpaid council tax last year - up nearly 70 per cent since 1997. Another 1,517 people were made bankrupt by the courts for their council tax debts.

Nigel Huddleston said: "An astonishing 22,458 cases in Luton were referred to bailiffs for council tax arrears last year and 9 bankruptcy orders were obtained for council tax. This figure represents one of the highest number of cases per head of population in the entire country. This is a terrible state of affairs and speaks volumes about both central Labour government and local Labour government incompetence.!"

Whitehall guidance issued by John Prescott in 2004 encourages the use of bailiffs by town halls. It even recommends that in-house town hall bailiffs remove the official council branding from their bailiff demands.

New official figures also reveal that that a record 3.1 million households are now in severe council tax difficulties and face liability orders for unpaid council tax. 47,465 of these are in Bedfordshire. Liability orders allow councils to seize money from wage packets/benefits or commence bailiff proceedings.

Conservatives have pledged to work with councils to freeze council tax bills in England and provide additional central funding to keep bills down for the next two years. Scotland has already benefited from a council tax freeze, making bills almost £300 a year less on a comparable home north of the border. Labour Ministers have ruled out introducing such a policy in England.

Nigel Huddleston added:

"Thanks to Gordon Brown doubling council tax bills, a record number of families in Luton and across the country are struggling to make ends meet. More people now face the threat of menacing bailiffs knocking at their door. This is a crisis of Labour's own making.

The fact that Labour Ministers have blocked a council tax freeze for England shows how out of touch Gordon Brown is with the plight of hard-working families and pensioners. Only a Conservative Government will work with Luton Council to help fund a council tax freeze and bring real help to low and middle income families. Only Conservatives can deliver the change our country needs."

Luton Conservative Association were delighted to be chosen to be part of the official National Campaign launch by the Conservative Party. The Conservative Party Chairman Eric Pickles MP led the launch in Luton today in Stuart Street at 10:30am on a fine Winter morning.

The message on the poster conveyed by the Leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron MP was one of commitment and support for the NHS but also one of the seriousness of the current financial situation under Labour which threatens the economic stability of the entire country.

Left to right: Nigel Huddleston PPC Luton South, Conservative Party Chairman Eric Pickles MP and Jeremy Brier PPC Luton North

Nigel Huddleston PPC Luton South and Jeremy Brier PPC Luton North were also in attendance along with members of the local Conservative Association, supporters, members of the public, the press and TV.

The launch also included the unveiling of a draft Conservative manifesto which can be found here.

The Luton Conservative Association, Conservative parliamentary Candidates: Nigel Huddleston and Jeremy Brier have been against the proposed development in the East of Luton. We have actively campaigned against this development including supporting and joining the protest march in May this year and a similar protest last year. Support against this development has also been given by Peter Lilley MP and many other Conservatives across the area.

We are pleased therefore to hear that at the Executive Committee meeting of Luton Borough Council held on December 7th 2009, the Executive decided to endorse the motion previously approved by the Full Council, to withdraw support for development of 5,500 homes to the east of Luton. The Full Council decision was passed when the Labour group decided to join the Conservative and Lib Dem group, reverse their previous stance, and vote against the plans - and in doing so went against their own party policy.

Nigel Huddleston said:

"I welcome the decision by the Luton Executive Committee to withdraw support for the unpopular East of Luton development, though I am concerned that the committee did not commit to fighting to protect greenbelt around the whole of Luton.

This was Labour government policy being enthusiastically implemented by a Labour Council until they finally woke up and realized how incredibly unpopular it was.

Luton Conservatives have been working with our colleagues over the border in Hertfordshire to fight this unwanted development for years. I am glad the Labour councillors who have been supporting the imposition of this unwanted development have finally changed their minds and have stopped riding roughshod over local opinion.

But it is a bit rich of people to ‘congratulate' them for finally coming to their senses. You don't thank vandals who have wrecked your house for helping clean up the mess - they should never have created the mess in the first place!

This is a significant victory in the fight to save the greenbelt and if (but only if) a Conservative government is elected next year then the residents of East Luton can rest assured their beloved greenbelt will not be concreted over. The Conservatives have promised to scrap the government's ridiculous housing targets and put planning decisions back in the hands of local people. Until then, there is still a threat that the central government inspector can impose building wherever he wants - no matter what the local people or local Council say. That's Labour for you!"

The strength of committment of the Luton Conservative Association can be seen from the following slide show. Also by the address made by Nigel Huddleston during the East of Luton action Group in the Summer. The suggestion that there was wholehearted support for this development by local Conservatives is not borne out by the facts.

Video of speakers: here
(Nigel appears just before the middle.)

Baroness Warsi responded to to the protesters on Monday the 30th November despite being covered with the contents of 3 to 4 eggs hurled at her by a man in a hooded coat, who then ran off but rejoined the protesters later. Baroness Warsi was unable to get her point across in the exchange, as several protesters poured criticism and scorn at her for 'not being a proper Muslim'. It was heartening to hear the complete rejection of the views of the protesters and the condemnation of the action of the egg thrower by the local Muslim Community, several of whom will have dry cleaning bills for suits and coats spoiled in this premeditated attack.

Baroness Warsi attempts to speak to the protesters

Police have taken the matter seriously and have interviewed many of those present. The egg thrower has been identified by police and an arrest was pending.

We would like to draw your attention to the article in the Sun by Baroness Warsi on the night in her own words.

Baroness Warsi writes in The Sun

We are also pleased to announce that Baroness Warsi has kindly offered to return to Luton in the New Year.

Conservative Peer and Shadow Communities Minister, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi is to visit Luton on Monday 30th November. 

She will be attending a range of events and all residents of the two Luton constituencies, Luton North and Luton South, are welcome to attend.

After a short tour of the shops and businesses in the Bury Park area of Luton, Baroness Warsi will hold two meetings at the Conservative Club just off Leagrave Road.

The first at 4.30pm will be specifically geared towards women and children and a second event is open to all members of the community at 7pm until 8.30pm.  Light refreshments will be provided at both events.

The Baroness will give a short speech outlining the Conservative party policy on community cohesion followed by an opportunity to ask questions.

Nigel Huddleston said:  "I am delighted that the Baroness will be visiting to Luton.  Whenever I see her on tv or hear her on the radio she always speaks a lot of sense and her no-nonsense approach goes down well with all sections of the community.  In particular after her strong performance on Question Time recently when she held Nick Griffin of the BNP to account, her moderate and sensible attitudes towards the issues of community cohesion and immigration and religious tolerance have found a wide audience.   This is a great opportunity for the people of Luton - from all section of the community - to come and meet Sayeeda Warsi face to face and find out more about her vision and the Conservative vision for Britain."

If you are interested in attending this event please email admin@lutonconservatives.co.uk or call 01582 729 511 and register your intention, specifying which event you will be attending.

To view a video of Baroness Warsi preparing for her appearance on Question Time, please click below:

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