“That’s a serious amount of money at a genuinely difficult time for public finances, with real pressures this year, especially in the NHS, and less funding coming from the UK Government going forward.
“Every pound has to go further right now, and we’re focused on bringing down NHS waiting lists, helping families with the cost of childcare, creating jobs, and raising educational standards.
“It wouldn’t have been fair to press ahead with this without fully supporting households, particularly at a time when household budgets are under significant pressure.
“We know the current system is unfair. Some people are still paying council tax based on what their home was worth over twenty years ago. That hasn’t changed, and neither has our view.
“This isn’t about giving up on council tax reform or retreating from fairness. It’s a practical call about timing and what we must prioritise. We’ll spend this time looking at other, more targeted ways to improve the system that don’t come with the same price tag, and we welcome any ideas.”
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