SUFFOLK MP David Ruffley is today preparing to meet county council chief executive Mike More to give more power to our "Cap the Tax" campaign.Mr Ruffley, whose Bury St Edmunds constituency includes Stowmarket and Needham Market, is to meet Mr More on Friday.

SUFFOLK MP David Ruffley is today preparing to meet county council chief executive Mike More to give more power to our "Cap the Tax" campaign.

Mr Ruffley, whose Bury St Edmunds constituency includes Stowmarket and Needham Market, is to meet Mr More on Friday.

"I receive more letters in my postbag on council tax than any other subject. Pensioners have been hit particularly hard at a time when the state pension has not kept pace with rises in pensioner expenditure.

"They are furious and they are right to feel this way," he said.

Mr Ruffley also warned that the police authority element of council tax bills – which currently accounts for about 10 per cent of the total – could rise by a further 25 per cent next year.

He said this was because the Home Office was planning to switch funding to forces in the north of England.

"Recent figures that I have unearthed show that Suffolk Police really does need an increase in funding, approxmimately seven per cent, to maintain its present service.

"Worryingly, for every one per cent increase in police funding, the precept must increase 3.5 per cent.

"It appears that more money will be given to Labour heartlands in the north while we will witness more council tax rises and more crime."

Ipswich Labour MP Chris Mole said there had been no indications from the Home Office about what the settlement for police authorities was likely to be.

"No one has these figures until they are announced by the government – I rather think Mr Ruffley is flying a kite on this one," he said.

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