Elections are being held across Stockport tomorrow to decide who should run Stockport Council.
Liberal Democrats believe that in difficult times we must make sure we do all we can to help ordinary working people.
That is why, unlike Labour or the Conservatives, every Liberal Democrat council in England has frozen council tax. It is why Liberal Democrat councils are more likely to earmark funds for the lowest paid than any other.
And it is why this month Liberal Democrats in Government are delivering tax cuts for 25m working people. A cut for millions, not for millionaires.
According to the Local Government Chronicle, Liberal Democrat run councils were more than two times likely to give the lowest paid workers a pay rise compared to Labour, and five times more likely than Conservative run councils.
Only Lib Dem council’s have frozen Council tax. In Stockport this is for the second year running. It is a small, practical way to help residents in tough economic times.
In Stockport, Liberal Democrats have overseen an 11% increase in the number of new Business Start-ups – the highest of anywhere in the North West. Stockport out-performs every neighbouring Labour council on new apprenticeships.
Lib Dem Stockport Council has kept all libraries open. Labour’s Manchester City Council has slashed thousands of jobs, closed almost all public loos and many libraries – all while keeping £100million tucked away in its bank account.
They aren’t alone. In Liverpool, the council’s cash reserves are increasing to £121.7 million – enough to build four new secondary schools – while nurseries, libraries and leisure centres are stripped of funds.
More and more people are experiencing Labour’s disastrous record at local level.
One Labour Council planned to spend £120,000 on an executive wine terrace for its headquarters. Liberal Democrats blocked it.
Manchester’s Labour councillors voted against the pupil premium – that’s the Lib Dem policy that directs money directly towards poorer children, which in Stockport alone has delivered £2.6m extra for local schools. Stockport Academy got nearly £100,000 extra.
Stockport has an ‘Excellent’ Council – but more needs to be done. That’s why Stockport Lib Dems are working hard to promote businesses in the Borough; to improve our town centre – the Grand Central revamp is just the beginning – and to deliver a cleaner, greener, safer Stockport.