Ealing Labour Party

Council tax payers funding Tory election campaign

Labour leader Cllr Julian Bell has re-acted angrily to Conservative abuse of Council resources by funding large lamp-post banners proclaiming a Council Tax freeze with only weeks left until the local elections.

Cllr Bell has written to Tory Council Leader Cllr Jason Stacey and Martin Smith, the Council’s Chief Executive demanding to know why the banners have been put up, featuring an overtly political message with only five weeks to go before the local elections.

The Council Tax Freeze was first called for by Labour in December, and when Labour called for a further freeze for the year after at the March meeting of Full Council, the Tories voted against it.

Julian Bell, Leader of Ealing Labour Group said “Local council tax payers will be appalled that their hard earned money is being used for party political advantage as important elections approach. There are strict rules about Council publicity at election times and these soviet style banners are a clear breach of these rules.”

He added, “the local Tories have got more than enough money from the Baron of Belize, Lord Ashcroft to pay for their propaganda, so it is understandable that council taxpayers should feel outraged at having to bankroll the Conservative election campaign.”