Northumberland Labour’s shadow cabinet member for healthy lives has called on leaders of the Tory-led council to cancel council tax bills for the county’s poorest residents.

Councillor Liz Dunn, who represents the Lynemouth ward, said: Up until 2019 the council did offer 100 per cent tax relief for working-age people but this was reduced to a maximum of 92 per cent.

“The skyrocketing cost of food, fuel and energy as well as housing costs are going to be make or break for the most vulnerable in the county.

“I am calling on council leaders in Northumberland to bring back the 100 per cent relief rate, certainly until things settle down a bit, hopefully in the next year or two. We have unique rural issues that need to be taken into consideration.

“We know that higher prices affect the poorest the most. As a council which has pledged to tackle inequality this measure would go some way to ensure the poorest are not penalised even more.”