Labour councils in London are among the worst culprits for passing on the Government’s council tax support cuts, a charity chief executive has claimed.
Joanna Kennedy, of London-based Z2K, which works to tackle poverty caused by unfairness in the law, legal and benefits systems, said authorities such as Brent, Newham and Southwark were making unemployed residents pay up to one-fifth of their council tax bills.
Ms Kennedy called on Ed Miliband to pledge to restore a fully funded national system of council tax benefit.
In a letter to a national newspaper, Ms Kennedy wrote: ‘At Z2K, our advisers see a steady stream of those being charged £4 or £5 a week council tax from their jobseeker’s allowance.
‘Many are also weighed down with spurious legal costs by their council after they fall behind with payments.
‘The coalition might be responsible for cutting council tax benefit, but, in London at least, it is Labour councils such as Brent, Newham and Southwark that are hitting their residents hardest, charging those out of work up to 20% of the full council tax.’
