MP 'invisible' in Commons debate on funding for Westminster (Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats)

Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats <info@westminsterlibdems.org.uk>

MP 'invisible' in Commons debate on funding for Westminster

February 8, 2008 10:43 AM

Local Conservative MP Mark Field may have done nothing to avoid a Council Tax rise so large that it will break a key Conservative election pledge

Local Conservative MP Mark Field did not speak and did not vote in a crucial Commons debate this week [Monday 4th February] on the funding settlement for councils across England, despite Conservative-run Westminster council calling the settlement 'a serious blow' to local people.

The council's press office released a statement on 30th January warning local people that from April Westminster's share of the Council Tax may have to rise by 3%. This would break an election promise made by Conservative councillors, when they were re-elected in 2006, that Council Tax rises would not be more than 2%.

Despite this, Westminster's MP Mark Field neither spoke nor voted in the Monday's debate in the House of Commons. Indeed, fewer than 2% of Conservative MPs turned up to vote.

Local Liberal Democrat Stuart Bonar said, "In their own words, the Conservatives are talking about this settlement dealing 'a serious blow' to council services and that they face 'a real struggle', yet their own MP was invisible in this key debate and vote.

"I am pleased that seven of London's eight Liberal Democrat MPs were there and voted against. It's just a pity that only three of the Conservatives' 193 MPs joined them.

"If Conservatives end up breaking their election pledge not to increase the Council Tax by more than 2% then they will have some pretty serious questions to put to their MPs."

The settlement now approved by Parliament will give Westminster a £175.8m subsidy in the 2008/2009 financial year. This will be higher than the amount received by 27 of the 32 other councils in the capital, and over six times as much as the £27.2m given to LibDem-run Richmond-upon-Thames council.