Exclusive: Labour's 'broken pledges' on council tax bills

The average home in the region is paying 188 a year more than when the manifesto was drawn up despite Ministers boasting of getting tough on local authorities

Critics have also accused the Government of abandoning another manifesto pledge that they were "committed to reforming council tax" in the long term.

Despite widespread anger, a report by Sir Michael Lyons urging the introduction of extra bands for the cheapest and most expensive properties was kicked into the long grass and the Government has relied instead on capping councils which seek "excessive" increases.

Around a third of those entitled to council tax benefit still do not claim it despite Sir Michael saying the system should be changed so that it is given out automatically.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: "The Labour Government promised to change the unfair council tax and has failed to deliver, as it has failed in so many areas.

"Families in Yorkshire that are trying to cope with the loss of a job, a pay cut or reduced hours, are being totally let down by the inflexible council tax system.

"This desperately unfair tax was brought in by the Tories and doubled by Labour. The Government must recognise that the council tax system is bust and replace it with a fair system based on the ability to pay."

Today the Yorkshire Post begins a series revealing the parts of Labour's 2005 manifesto Ministers are not so keen to boast about.

There are now 152 days to go until the last possible date for a general election – Thursday, June 3 – and when the campaign is officially launched voters will be constantly reminded about Labour's achievements over 13 years in power.

But despite Labour insisting it has "delivered" for the people of Yorkshire and Humber and fulfilled many of its promises, analysis of the pledges they made to voters in 2005 reveals some areas where progress is at best questionable.

Business leaders have branded the claims the party made about the economy in 2005 as "hubris" and Labour is on course to break a major tax pledge if the election takes place next May, still considered to be the most likely date, while pledges to abolish fuel poverty and give voters a say on European reforms have also failed.

Christine Melson, who set up the Is It Fair? campaign to protest at council tax bills, said: "They've had 12 years to reform council tax. I'm extremely disappointed at increases.

"It's an extremely important issue at the next election – it should be the thing that's at the top of all their lists but nobody has made anything acceptable so far."

Shadow Local Government and Communities Secretary Caroline Spelman said: "Gordon Brown has intentionally engineered the system of council tax to hike bills and rake in more money, leaving councillors to take the blame when bills hit the doorstep.

"Hard-working families and pensioners face more hikes if Labour were to hang on for a fourth term and impose an expensive and intrusive council tax revaluation.

"Doubling council tax and cutting services may be Gordon Brown's idea of it being under control. To most households it's more like out of control; that's why we are offering a council tax freeze in England in the way there presently is in Scotland."

A Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "Government is acting to keep council tax bills low; we expect next year's rises to be the lowest in sixteen years and Ministers won't hesitate to cap excessive increases if necessary."

Labour says this year's increases are falling and that this year's rise – an average of three per cent – is the lowest since 1994/95.

The cost of your local services

What the average Yorkshire and Humber household paid in council tax

2004/05: 881

2005/06: 918

2006/07: 961

2007/08: 1,002

2008/09: 1,039

2009/10: 1,069