Sir - When Labour was last in power, they scrapped Conservative controls on council tax increases with the result that, between 1997 and 2007, our bills here in Worcestershire more than doubled.

Worse even than this, the policing element of our council tax grew by a factor of more than three during the same period.

The current government has reintroduced controls on council tax and we now have a situation where any council or police authority that wants to increase this tax by more than 2% has to hold a local referendum. They have also provided extra money for those councils that freeze council tax rates.

I have asked both Joy Squires, our local Labour candidate, and Labour central office whether they intend to scrap the current government controls on council tax but, so far, neither has provided any response.

It is clear that local Councillors 'irrespective of the Party allegiances' cannot be trusted to keep increases in council tax under control.

On past experience, it would hence seem very likely that we will see massive increases in council tax if Labour wins the forthcoming election.

Dr Brian Gladman

Worcester