Council tax rose twice as quickly under the last Labour government than in 13 years of Conservative government. The average percentage increase in council tax between 1997 and 2010 was 6 per cent while the average percentage increase in council tax between 2010 and 2023 was been just 3 per cent.

Conservative metro mayors kept council tax low whilst delivering great local services. The Conservative mayors in the West Midlands and Tees Valley never charged a mayoral precept, delivering quality public services for local people without increasing residents’ council tax bills.

Protected residents from unexpected and excessive council tax rises, while giving councils the powers they needed to raise the appropriate revenue. The Localism Act 2011, which Labour opposed, ensured residents have the power to veto rises of over 3 per cent for council tax and 2 per cent for the adult social care precept, giving residents security.

Brought forward plans to stop ‘excessive’ increases in council tax in Wales which the Labour-run Welsh government cynically rejected. Labour MSs voted against the Welsh Conservatives’ motion to ‘require any local authority proposing an excessive increase in council tax to hold a local referendum and obtain a yes vote before implementing the proposed rise’.

Delivered almost £3 billion of extra funding for cities and regions in our devolved nations, strengthening the UK by levelling up Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Conservatives delivered £1.49 billion in City and Growth Deals in every part of Scotland, £791 million across Wales and £617 million for deals covering the whole of Northern Ireland.

Increased R&D investment and made sure more investment was spread around the country, stimulating innovation and productivity growth. Public R&D investment outside the South East increased by one third by 2024-25, and the Conservatives supported investment of £100 million into three Innovation Accelerators in Manchester, the West Midlands and Glasgow.

Rolled out gigabit-capable broadband to over one million premises through Project Gigabit, showing our plan to boost digital connectivity is working. The Conservatives’ £5 billion Project Gigabit and Shared Rural Network worked with broadband suppliers to achieve at least 85 per cent gigabit coverage of the UK by 2025, with the plan for nationwide coverage by 2030. The plan had already delivered high-speed internet by 2024 to over 80 per cent of the country.