Since 2019 Northumberland Labour has campaigned for 100 per cent tax council relief for the most vulnerable families in the county.

Labour leader Scott Dickinson said: “We recognise rural challenges and we see that Rural authorities like Durham have 100 per cent relief for those most in need.

“We abstained on the 92 per cent council tax relief, not because we thought it was acceptable, but because we were worried that the Tory-led council would remove council tax relief altogether. Our stance that those most in need should have 100 per cent council tax relief still stands.

“A report recently published said more than 20,000 people fell into the bracket of needing extra support; back in 2019 it was estimated that 13,000 households would be entitled to receive support or extra support.

“We must recognise that the cost of living crisis is pushing people into unacceptable levels of poverty. Failing to support people so that they simply get poorer translates into poor health and shorter life expectancy.

“We cannot allow £1 billion organisation with the ability to help stop people slipping further into poverty 100 per cent support for the most vulnerable in the county.”