Angela Rayner has refused to rule out scrapping the single person discount for council tax, a move which would affect thousands of widows.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Communities Secretary said the Government had no plans to increase council tax in England.
She declined to make the same commitment about the single person discount.
At present, people get 25 per cent off their bill if they live alone, to take account of the fact that they benefit from fewer council services than couples or those with families.
Cutting or scrapping this discount would affect many older people just weeks after it was announced most will lose the winter fuel payment of up to £300 a year.
‘Discount is so important’
Speaking in the Commons, Graham Stuart, a Tory former minister, said the discount “is so important to pensioners who are already losing out because of the absence of the winter fuel allowance”.
The allowance is a previously universal payment to pensioners of up to £300, which the Labour Government has announced will be available only to those on pension credit from 2024.
He urged Ms Rayner to “guarantee today, put gladness into all their hearts across the country,” that she would not look at removing the single person discount.
She replied: “I find it astonishing that members opposite, after running down the economy in the way that they have, after the Chancellor had to come to this House to talk about the billions of pounds black hole, that they’re now trying to claim that this Government is about raising taxes.
“This Government is about making sure that working people are better off and we’ll intend to do that.”
Earlier Kemi Badenoch, the shadow communities and local secretary, told MPs: “It’s been reported that the Secretary of State is being lobbied to increase council tax and remove discounts like the single occupant discount.
“Will she take this opportunity to reassure the House that the Government has no plans to increase council tax as they assured us before the election?”
Ms Rayner replied: “Yes.”
Average council tax in England now stands at £2,130 for a Band D home, meaning that a 25 per cent discount is worth more than £500 a year.
For an expensive Band H it would be worth more than £1,000.
Rachel Reeves announced in July that only pensioners receiving certain benefits would be able to receive the winter fuel allowance.
The Chancellor said this was because her officials had discovered a £22 billion black hole in the nation’s finances.
Sir Keir Starmer has warned that October’s budget would be “painful” and that those with the “broadest shoulders” face higher taxes.
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