Surprise surprise. Labour politicians in Newport are drawing up plans to squeeze even more money out of residents by drastically hiking council tax bills yet again.

City council chiefs want to increase council tax rates by 4.9 per cent. Let’s not forget that last year our bills rocketed by 6.7 per cent and a whopping 8.5 per cent the year before that.

Perhaps residents wouldn’t find this such a bitter pill to swallow if they were reaping the benefits, but they are not. Services are declining.

This mooted 4.9 per cent increase would add an extra £80 or so onto annual bills for residents........

© South Wales Argus