Rishi Sunak criticises local authorities for requesting steep council tax rises

‘It’s important that councils manage the cost of living for their residents,’ Sunak told BBC Radio Somerset. Photograph: Ben Stansall/PA

Rishi Sunak has criticised local councils for putting up council tax too much, even as authorities struggle to cope with funding shortfalls that have left several on the brink of bankruptcy.

The prime minister criticised councils in England for requesting permission to raise council tax by more than 5% as they look to balance their budgets amid a national crisis in local authority funding.