Conservatives can't be trusted to run our councils - Butt Philip

12.34.45pm GMT Tue 24th Feb 2009

Theo Butt Philip, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset has hit out at the Tories following the announcement of council tax increases in Somerset.

Liberal Democrat Somerset County Council has set its lowest ever council tax rise, just 2.7% this year.

Conservative Sedgemoor has increase council tax by 4.5% and Independent-controlled West Somerset, still recovering from the previous Conservative administration's mismanagement, has been forced to raise council tax by 4.9%.

Theo Butt Philip said,

"People across Somerset are feeling the pinch as a result of the credit crunch. It's therefore right that local councils should do everything they can to make things easier.

"I'm proud that Lib Dem Somerset has recognised this and set its lowest ever council tax increase, below the current level of inflation.

The Conservatives have failed to keep council tax down, for all their talk of zero percent increases they've had some of the highest rises in the county and only a Lib Dem lead council, Taunton Deane, has managed a freeze. It's difficult to see what the Conservatives are for if they don't keep council tax down."