Furious residents in several areas, including Newham, Birmingham, Somerset, Trafford, Bradford, and Windsor & Maidenhead, have strongly criticized Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s decision to allow local councils to raise council tax beyond the usual 5% cap. In Labour-led Newham, the tax will increase by 8.99%, a move that has sparked widespread frustration, particularly among those already struggling with the rising cost of living.
Many locals are feeling the financial strain, expressing their anger and disappointment with both the local council and the Labour government. Maria Moloney, a 60-year-old resident of Manor Park, did not hold back in her criticism. She described the tax increase as disgraceful and accused the government of failing to support working citizens. She added that people like her, who work hard and pay their taxes, see little return, while others who do not work seem to benefit from government assistance.
John Boden, a retired police officer, echoed similar sentiments. At 63 years old, he has already been dealing with rising expenses, and this latest increase has left him frustrated. He described council tax in his borough as being “through the roof” and accused Labour of mismanaging funds. In his view, the borough operates just like every other Labour-controlled area, with officials who are, in his words, clueless and wasteful with public money. He believes that a significant portion of local funding goes toward housing costs and support for individuals on benefits, rather than being invested in services that benefit working taxpayers.
Nigel Nadolski, 74, from East Ham, acknowledged that the council provides some value for money but expressed dissatisfaction with waste collection services. He also voiced concerns about the impact of the tax rise on pensioners. Since Chancellor Rachel Reeves scrapped the Winter Fuel Allowance for millions last year, he worries that the increase will further reduce the financial support available to elderly residents. He reflected on the current state of the country, describing it as dismal, and suggested that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had already warned things would get worse under his leadership.
Sharon More, a 66-year-old widow who works part-time on a fruit and vegetable stall, shared her struggles under the Labour government. While she is exempt from paying council tax, she still feels the impact of rising costs across essential goods and services. She explained that the cost of living has soared, making it difficult for pensioners and low-income individuals to afford even the basics. In her words, people can survive on a state pension, but just barely—it leaves little room for leisure, travel, or anything beyond basic needs.
Andy Towell, a 46-year-old admin worker from Newham, also spoke out against the increase, saying that the cost of living is becoming unbearable. He pointed out that energy bills and council tax have both risen significantly, making it harder for people to manage their expenses. He believes that most people feel worse off now than they did before and expressed his disappointment with the current government. To him, Labour’s handling of the economy has been a disaster, and he finds it alarming to see how quickly financial pressures are mounting on everyday workers.
Many residents also criticized the government’s decision to cut key benefits, such as the Winter Fuel Allowance, which was a crucial support for pensioners. Andy Towell believes such decisions undermine core British values, such as fairness and support for the vulnerable. He worries that with continued increases in essential costs, more people will struggle to make ends meet.
Yvonne Tiley, a 58-year-old lab assistant, took a slightly different perspective. She admitted that the council tax increase was inevitable, given that Newham had kept rates low for a long time. However, she was still disappointed by the decline in services, noting that more facilities are closing and fewer public services are available. She described it as a sad situation, where people are paying more but getting less in return.
Market stallholder Tuyi Adewole, 41, expressed his frustration, saying that things have only gotten worse under Labour. He had hoped for improvements but has instead seen a decline in business. Many of his customers are cutting back on spending, focusing only on necessities like food. He noted that the financial strain is evident everywhere, and people are struggling to manage their daily expenses.
Sweet Amadasun, a 52-year-old care worker from Newham, explained that she already pays £100 per month in council tax and finds it difficult to keep up with her bills. She described her situation bluntly, saying that for many people, work has become just a means to pay off never-ending expenses, leaving them with little financial security or comfort.
For some, the impact of the tax rise is even more severe. Gina Darie, a 49-year-old mother of two from Maryland, Newham, shared that she and her husband are now looking for ways to cut costs. The increase means they will have to save wherever they can to balance their household budget. She explained that her husband has been searching for a job with a better income, as they are both trying hard to provide a good life for their children. But despite their efforts, she believes things are only getting harder.
Not everyone opposes the tax hike. Hospitality manager Arben Palluci, 49, had a different take, saying that he supports the increase because it helps fund essential services. He believes that without taxes, public services will suffer, and people need to contribute to keep their communities running. However, he seems to be in the minority, as most residents feel burdened by rising costs and declining services.
Despite the backlash, Newham Council insists that even with the increase, its council tax rates remain among the lowest in London. Officials argue that the hike is necessary to maintain services such as libraries and bin collections. A council spokesperson clarified that not all residents relying on temporary accommodation are unemployed—many have become homeless due to landlords leaving the rental sector or issuing no-fault evictions.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz defended the tax increase, citing “exceptional challenges” facing the borough. She explained that the financial strain comes primarily from the rising cost of temporary accommodation, which is projected to add £100 million to the council’s budget over the next three years. She acknowledged that it was a difficult time for residents and assured them that the council had not taken the decision lightly. She also highlighted a proposed 80% council tax reduction scheme to support low-income households and pensioners.
Angela Rayner echoed these sentiments, stating that the government had only approved a limited number of requests for tax increases. She emphasized that they did not approve the full amounts requested by councils and that even with the increases, residents in affected areas would still pay less than the average compared to similar councils. Rayner insisted that these decisions were necessary to prevent councils from falling into deeper financial distress.
Despite these justifications, many locals remain unconvinced. For them, the combination of rising taxes, cuts to benefits, and increasing living costs is making everyday life more difficult. The widespread frustration among Newham residents reflects broader discontent with Labour’s handling of economic issues, raising concerns about the party’s ability to manage finances effectively at both local and national levels.
