After four years of reckless spending by Westminster Labour, today Westminster Conservatives set out our plan to ensure taxpayers' money is spent responsibly. We spoke with the Conservative Leader of Westminster City Council, Cllr Paul Swaddle, to learn more. Paul said,
Today I am setting out Our Plan for Value for Money.
Our Plan has been shaped by thousands of doorstep conversations and responses to our Listening to Westminster campaign. Every commitment in this plan comes directly from what local people have told us.
Since Labour took office at Westminster City Council, residents have been left to foot the bill for four years of waste and reckless spending. £27 million wasted on the Geoffrey Osborne contract scandal. Senior Labour councillors awarding themselves pay rises of up to 62 per cent. Council tax projected to rise by up to 75 per cent over the next four years. And £19 million in reserves raided to fund an election gimmick that delays higher costs until after you have voted in May.
On top of this, the Labour Government's Family Home Tax threatens thousands of ordinary family homes across Westminster while stripping millions in funding from the Council in the 'Fairer' Funding Review.
Same Old Labour: you pay more, you get less, they waste the rest.
Under the Conservatives, Westminster had the lowest council tax in the UK. That was not an accident. It was an active choice to respect taxpayers' money through responsible spending and sound financial management. We are committed to restoring that tradition.
If elected on 7 May, Westminster Conservatives will:
- Review every major contract following Labour's £27 million Geoffrey Osborne failure, prioritising quality and value with proper due diligence. No more reckless waste. No more Geoffrey Osbornes.
- Keep council tax as low as possible for the next four years, protecting households already under severe cost-of-living pressure.
- Oppose the Labour Government's Family Home Tax, which threatens nearly 4,000 ordinary family homes in Westminster, punishing families, pensioners and long-term residents. We offered a cross-party effort to oppose it. Labour refused. We will continue to fight it at every level.
- Stand up to the Labour Government and fight for a fair funding deal that protects the essential services local people and visitors rely on. We will not allow the city to be short-changed.
- Protect frontline services, including waste collection, social care and neighbourhood safety, through smarter spending, cutting duplication and simplifying processes.
- Prioritise efficiency and cut waste by auditing all Council-funded services, redirecting funding away from duplication and towards frontline priorities.
- Drive digital transformation to improve services and reduce costs, with robust cyber security.
- Maximise commercial revenue from Westminster's property portfolio, advertising locations, parking assets and event spaces without burdening residents.
- Uphold transparency and financial accountability, publishing clearer financial information so residents can see exactly how their council tax is being spent.
- Partner with charities and businesses to deliver better services and cut costs, particularly on homelessness and community safety.
If you want a council that treats every pound of your money with respect, Vote Conservative on 7 May.
Read our plan for Value for Money here.
