LOCAL MP Jeremy Hunt has slammed what he sees as a "massive" hike in council tax now being raked in by the government from homes across Waverley and the rest of the UK. Following the MP's comments on the budget, available to view at the online video site YouTube, Mr Hunt has been quick to condemn what he sees as another stealth tax. New figures that show how the tax takings have soared by an estimated 111 per cent under the new government have been released as new council tax bills are being sent out by Waverley. Mr Hunt explained how official statistics show an increase in Waverley council tax bills of £34,752,000 from 1997 - 2007. He labelled council tax as "the ultimate stealth tax," leaving Waverley's taxpayers paying a collective bill of nearly £66million last year. "We need to give people back control of council finances," he said. "David Cameron has announced that a new Conservative government will give local residents the power to veto high council tax rises through local referendums. It makes a mockery of local democracy when responsible behaviour by a local council is so consistently undermined by central government raids on council grants."
