Merton Labour party’s ill-thought out proposals for a £25 council tax reba:e were soundly rejected at the Council meeting on 15 Sep 2010. Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Merton Park Indpendent councillors voted against the gimmick that would see the Council planning for the reba:e in its budget each year, as well as high administration and publicity costs to trumpet the scheme.

Lib Dem Council leader Iain Dysart said:

“We were shocked by just how bad these plans were. Labour wanted to tie up £1.7million in the Council’s budget each year, just to post it back to residents after taking it from them. Not to mention the extra administration and staff costs – more than £100,000 over the next 4 years. At best, this proposal gives with one hand and takes more away with the other. But worse, those receiving any level of Council Tax benefit wouldn't have been eligible for the scheme, so the least well off in our community, some 14,000 households, would have missed out. Labour claim to be 'the sole progressive party in British politics'; I know I need glasses, but I can't see the 'progressive' bit here".

“If Labour is really serious about being a progressive party - and if there really is a spare £1.7million a year knocking around - rather than waste it on gimmicks, surely it’s better to ensure funding for local voluntary and support groups? If we really want to help people - which I believe we all do - there must be better ways of doing so than this Labour scheme."