SIR – In response to Councillor [Chris] Mitchell’s criticism of Labour and the Green Party for supporting a lower-than-inflation rise in council tax to protect jobs and services (Worcester News, March 4).

According to a Daily Telegraph article on February 14, 65 councils were proposing to increase council tax, more than half of which were Conservative-led.

Recently, members of the ruling Conservative group on Cornwall Council resigned from the party following a freeze in council tax, with one being quoted as saying that “I won’t buy votes by doing something I think is wrong”.

Council tax benefit reform will result in councils across the country demanding increased payments from the 3.2 million poorest workingage households who due to their personal circumstances currently pay either no council tax or a reduced charge.

NEIL LAURENSON

Worcester Green Party