Labour: Council tax announcement two years old

Chris Leslie, shadow Treasury minister, comments on George Osborne's announcement that council tax will be frozen for another year:

"George Osborne is simply re-announcing a pledge first made in his conference speech three years ago and repeated in the Conservative manifesto and coalition agreement.

"This re-announced policy is too little too late. Out of touch ministers don’t seem to understand that people are struggling with rising prices and energy bills now, but this policy means no help for another six months. And it would mean just £72 for a typical household, which is a fraction of the extra £450 a year the Tory VAT rise alone is costing a couple with children.

"If the chancellor is serious about getting the stalled economy moving again he'll need to do much better than this. He should adopt one or more of the measures in Labour's five point plan to create jobs, help struggling families and support small businesses. When even Conservative backbenchers are now openly saying the government has no credible plan for growth, it's time for ministers to start listening."