I really don't know how the Conservatives have the cheek to call this year's budget a smoke and mirrors budget.

My council tax has come through my door and it is exactly as predicted.

There is a freeze in council tax for council services and a very small overall increase in the council tax that is apparently paying for 14 new, additional police officers for Bolton.

I actually don't mind paying extra for more bobbies on our streets.

In fact council tax figures across the country show that far from Labour trying to distort this year's budget with smoke and mirrors it is, in fact, the Tories who for their own political ends are trying to cover up their own inadequacies.

The fact of the matter is that households in top-tier Labour council areas will pay on average £204 less this year than those living in Tory council areas and £143 less than those in Lib Dem areas. In Bolton, Labour has frozen council tax in other areas and the average increase for Tory councils is 4.6 per cent and 4.4 per cent for the Lib Dems.

It's also amusing that the Tories have called for the public to be protected from excessive council tax rises by holding referendums.

Given that Tory councils tax their residents at much higher levels than Labour councils, we don't need a referendum. We can protect ourselves more easily by rejecting the Conservatives on May 1.

William Gallagher Labour Party Candidate for Breightmet