NEWS that Tory-controlled North Yorkshire County Council is to raise council taxes by seven per cent at the same time as the education budget is to be cut by one per cent proves that the party's promise to cut taxes and boost public spending is hollow.
At local level, the Conservatives have raised council tax by £187 for an average property since 1997, while simultaneously cutting vital investment in the county's schools.
At national level, the Conservatives' proposals will leave a huge £16 billion hole in public spending leading to cuts in vital services of £12 million per constituency - equivalent to dozens of nurses, teachers, or police. William Hague can proclaim that he will cut taxes and boost spending until he is blue in the face. North Yorkshire voters have only to look at his colleagues' record at County Hall to know the exact opposite is true and that they cannot be trusted on public services.
Coun Greg Stone,
Vale of York Liberal Democrats'
Parliamentary Spokesman.
Updated: 10:21 Wednesday, February 07, 2001
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article