Bring Council Tax Reform to Labour Conference

Council Tax is broken.

Introduced as a temporary solution and still based on property values from 1991, it no longer reflects modern Britain, modern patterns of wealth, or people’s ability to pay. Decades of delay have turned what was meant to be a stopgap into one of the most outdated and politically avoided parts of our tax system.

Meanwhile, local government has become increasingly reliant on Council Tax to fund essential services while facing rising demand and shrinking flexibility.

Residents see bills rise.

Councils see budgets stretched.

Public confidence weakens.

Yet meaningful reform remains absent.

Labour has always been at its strongest when it has had the confidence to challenge systems that no longer work and build something better in their place.

That starts with members.

Help Put Council Tax Reform on Labour’s Agenda

If you are a Labour Party member, you can ask your Constituency Labour Party (CLP) to submit the motion below as a Contemporary Motion to Annual Conference.

You do not need to write your own motion.

You do not need to be a policy expert.

And you do not need to make the case alone.

We have drafted the motion and are happy to support local parties through the process.

How to get involved

1. Copy or download the motion below

2. Send it to your CLP Secretary or officers
Ask for it to be considered through your local Conference process.

3. Ask for a discussion at your CLP meeting
Members decide whether the motion should be submitted.

4. Submit the motion
If enough CLPs raise Council Tax reform, the issue can move from local discussion onto the Conference floor and into Labour’s national policy debate.

Need support? We’ll help.

If your CLP is considering the motion, we would be delighted to support.

We can arrange speakers for meetings — including MPs, councillors, campaigners and policy specialists — to introduce the issue, answer questions and help members explore the case for reform.

We can also help connect your CLP with affiliated organisations, researchers and campaign groups so members hear a range of views and evidence before deciding.

This campaign is not about imposing one answer.

It is about ensuring Labour starts asking the question.

Get in touch if your CLP would like a speaker or support organising a discussion.

Conference Motion:

Council Tax Reform – A Fairer System for All

This CLP notes that:

i. The current Council Tax system is unfair, regressive, outdated, and fails properly to reflect property wealth and ability to pay.

ii. The system, based on 1991 property values in England and Scotland, creates inequalities where households in modest homes can pay a higher proportion of their income than those in very high value properties.

iii. Local government funding relies heavily on Council Tax while councils face rising costs for social care and other essential services.

iv. Many residents feel services are being reduced while bills continue to rise, undermining confidence in local democracy.

This CLP believes that:

a. The current system does not fairly reflect modern patterns of wealth, housing values, or ability to pay.

b. Any future system of local taxation should ensure that those with the broadest shoulders contribute proportionately more.

c. Reform should protect low income households while ensuring that high value property wealth is taxed fairly.

This CLP resolves:

1. To call on the Government to undertake a full review of Council Tax and local government funding.

2. To support the exploration of fairer alternatives including proportional property taxation, land value taxation, and local income based systems.

3. To campaign for sustainable funding settlements for local authorities and for an end to punitive debt recovery practices against households in financial difficulty.

Raise it locally. Submit it nationally. Help bring Council Tax reform to Labour Conference.

CLPs Supporting Discussion on Council Tax Reform

The following Constituency Labour Parties have supported motions, hosted discussions, engaged with the campaign, or backed efforts to bring Council Tax reform onto Labour’s national agenda through Annual Conference and wider Party debate.

  • Hartlepool CLP

  • Easington CLP

Is your CLP discussing the motion?

If your CLP has:

  • Submitted the motion

  • Passed the motion

  • Hosted a discussion

  • Requested a speaker

  • Engaged with the campaign

We would be delighted to add you to the list.

Add Your CLP