Whether we live in Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire we all face massive increases in our Council Tax bills in 2024-25. At the same time, both Councils plan swingeing cuts to key services – services upon which we all depend to sustain our quality of life here in Wales. We know that the burden of further tax increases and deeper cuts will be felt most keenly by those that can least afford them.

Ceredigion Preseli Constituency Labour Party understands that the Councils have taken such unpalatable decisions only with the greatest reluctance in the face of an impossibly grim financial position. Many of our public services are already on their knees after 14 years of brutal austerity measures initiated by this Conservative UK Government and room for so-called “efficiency savings” is long gone. Critically, the Conservatives’ obsession with shrinking and undermining public service has gravely weakened the ability of the Welsh government and Local Councils to mitigate the impact of seemingly endless austerity on our communities.

We believe that the time has come to direct the blame for these measures squarely where it belongs and to hold this fundamentally cruel and uncaring Conservative UK Government to account for its actions. 

We can start by voting for Jackie Jones, our Welsh Labour and Cooperative candidate in the General Election and by helping to elect a Labour UK Government that believes in the vital contribution of public service and local democracy to sustaining strong, vibrant and cohesive communities across our nation. We must work to establish a robust Welsh Labour presence on our County Councils and Town Councils so that we can represent the interests of all and, most important, provide a clear voice for all those who have been left behind over the last 14 years.