Dan Byles Slams Labour MP’s ‘Bizarre’ Referendum Call - Labour MP’s plan would lead to higher Council Tax bills for struggling families

Dan Byles has hit out at what he calls the 'bizarre' call for a local referendum by a local Labour MP - saying that it would lead to higher Council Tax bills for struggling local people.

The MP made the call after Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council announced that it was looking into ways to save money and run services more efficiently by combining some 'back office' admininstrative and bureaucratic functions with a neighbouring council.

The move, which is designed to make the two councils more efficient without affecting frontline services, is in line with Government recommendations publicised recently by Communities & Local Government Minister John Denham.

Dan Byles, who has been highly critical of unnecessary red tape in public services, said: "The economy is in tatters and local councils are facing an unprecedented squeeze on their funding from central government. So it is absolutely right that they should look at ways to keep Council Tax down by cutting red tape and bureaucracy.

"I find it bizarre that our local Labour MP is opposed to a plan to make the council more efficient. It just goes to show that he has never worked in or run a hard working small business. I grew up working in our small family shop, so I know how important it is to keep on top of costs and to stay efficient.

"Perhaps our MP can tell us which services he would rather see cut, or how much he would like to see Council Tax rise by? And how much does he think a local referendum would cost Council Tax payers? It's a bit rich coming from an MP who promised us a referendum on the European Constitution at the last election, and then personally voted against a referendum in Parliament.

"The truth is that there is a General Election looming, and Gordon Brown has instructed Labour MPs not to campaign on their dismal national record of eye watering public debt, uncontrolled immigration and a targets culture that is destroying our public services. So our MP is desperately scrabbling for a non-existent local issue to use as a smoke screen. But I think he'll find that local people aren't as easy to fool as he thinks."