Bradford independent councillor slams tax rise plans

Ishtiaq Ahmed (left) speaking at a recent Stand up to Racism event (Pic: ishtiaq.ahmed.944 on Facebook)

Bradford’s Labour council has announced a 10 percent rise in council tax—the highest in Britain. Ishtiaq Ahmed, the independent councillor for Heaton Ward in the city, spoke to Socialist Worker 

SW: What will this tax increase mean for Bradford?

This increase will hurt the most vulnerable people in Bradford, people who are already really struggling with the cost of living crisis. 

One in three children in Bradford are living in poverty. So many families are already relying on food banks to survive. We are already dealing with rising bills and low wages.

The council tax increase will cause more debt, more rent arrears, more evictions and more homelessness. This will all mean more pressure on mental health services. They say the council tax increase is about addressing funding gaps, but it will increase inequalities.

People are already grappling with a range of problems. I run a mental health charity. People come to us for counselling, for advice, to attend self-help groups. But they have to make a stark choice—do you spend £5 a day on bus fares to access support, or do you eat or top up your electric meter? 

People are making those choices now before the bills go up. Council tax increases are happening at the same time as all our services are being cut—youth services, health and social care services, street cleansing, sports. There are big cuts in every department.

So people are paying more but they are getting less and that causes a deep sense of frustration. 

SW: What alternatives are you arguing for?

The independent group cannot support this tax rise. My views are left wing. We want a robust regeneration plan, investment, support for businesses which will boost employment and increase business rates.

You can’t keep penalising the residents every time we have a financial deficit—it is just not sustainable. 

Labour has been saying we have a low council tax in Yorkshire—but that is like comparing apples to oranges. 

We are the fifth most deprived city in the country. There is deprivation which impacts on health and significant differences in life expectancy. The average life expectancy in Manningham is 20 years lower than in Guiseley, which is a 20 minute drive away.  

So we are demanding that the council stops its vanity projects and funds regeneration. 

SW: Is there a danger that cuts implemented by Labour councils will lead to support for Reform UK?

I am already sensing that white voters will go to Reform UK. The Tories and Reform UK are jostling for their votes, seeing who can be more racist, more Islamophobic.  

The motion brought in by the Tories about an inquiry into “grooming gangs” was just about creating the opportunity for them to spew their racial stereotypes. 

The leader of the Tory group on the council said I had accused her of being a racist—I said her language and rhetoric was racist. It is unbelievable that we hear that in the council chamber.

The other parties detest us independents and that means we are doing our job which is to hold them to account. We are not there to be liked but to make what happens transparent.

They have no plan to create jobs, so they always turn to tax hikes to cover budget shortfalls. The buck stops with the leadership—they have to be held responsible. 

We are planning to get a campaign going before the next budget meeting on the 6 March.