£2K COUNCIL TAX ON WAY
‘Kick in teeth for hardest hit’
MILLIONS of families could be clobbered with sky-high council tax bills in April.
More than a quarter of districts are expected to hike the rates to £2,000 for those living in Band D – houses priced £68,000 to £88,000.
But critics accused town halls of delivering a “kick in the teeth” to households hit hardest by Covid.
The Government has given councils the power to raise bills by up to 5% to meet the increasing costs of social care, while police authorities can add a further £15 to their share of the levy.
If local authorities raise charges by just 4% – in line with last year’s rise – a further 59 districts could ask for more than £2,000. It would mean more than a quarter having Band D bills above this level.
Harry Fone, inset, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “These bills will feel like a kick in the teeth.
“The pandemic has destroyed many households’ finances. The last thing they need is a bigger bill.” Shadow Communities Secretary
Steve Reed added that the Government has chosen to “clobber” hard-working families after its “own incompetence left the country facing the worst crisis of any major economy”. A cap means none of London’s councils is at risk of having charges above £2,000 in Band D . Robert Palmer of Tax Justice UK said: “It’s shocking that a home owner in central London can pay less council tax than a family in the North of England.”
EASTENDERS legend Shaun Williamson has moaned he still gets called Barry.
The actor, 55, says it happens every day – even though it has been 17 years since the character was killed off.
Barry said: “EastEnders used to get enormous audiences. There were only four channels. There were a lot less options at the time, so everybody seemed to watch it. We’d get 20million people on a Tuesday night, even if there wasn’t a murder. So among a certain age group, I’m Barry.
“I get called Barry a lot, even now. When it happens abroad, it gets you. I was once in a bar in New York and a man came over and asked if I was Barry from EastEnders.” Barry has done a string of big shows since his time in Albert Square, but even that doesn’t help.
He added: “Some younger viewers know me from when I did Extras with Ricky Gervais, rather than EastEnders.
“But, of course, I was still called Barry in that! So I’m either known as Barry from EastEnders or Barry from Extras. You can take your pick.”
Being known for playing Barry has made him a figure of fun. But Barry doesn’t mind.
He said: “As long as it puts a smile on people’s faces, I don’t mind being the butt of a joke. It’s all good fun.”
Barry is back on the box on Celebs On The Farm, which continues tomorrow at 9pm on MTV.