Theresa May and Philip Hammond: They’ll squeeze you until the pips squeak.

Theresa May won’t be happy until she and her Conservatives have drained every penny from your bank account and put you into permanent debt, with the stress and misery associated with it.

Here are her latest wheezes. First this:

The Tories will shortly attempt to implement a ban on estate agents and landlords from charging prospective tenants exorbitant fees – a seemingly fantastic bill supposedly designed to benefit over 4 million Brits in the private rental sector today.

However, as with every Tory policy that initially seems to benefit us little guys, the devil really is in the detail.

the most likely outcome of the Tories’ plans to ban letting agent fees will be that estate agents and landlords are simply going to hike our rents in response.

Yes, with the Tories only proposing an arbitrary ban on estate agent fees, and with absolutely no corresponding measures in place to either increase Britain’s dwindling housing stock or to ensure a ceiling on the cost of private rents with a rent cap (as Labour are proposing), estate agents and landlords will be able to simply offset the burden of the ban on fees onto private renters like you and me.

By conveniently failing to close glaring and blatantly obvious loopholes, the Tories’ imminent ban on estate agent fees will yet again benefit already wealthy property owners rather than those of us who are just about managing to pay the rent.

Then this:

Local authorities are to be allowed to raise council tax by up to 5.99% next year, after a further relaxation of the government-imposed cap to address shortfalls in funding for social care.

Families across the UK could see their bills rise by up to £100 a year as a result of the announcement, which will also see councils increasing the charge without holding local referendums.

The move, which has been widely criticised and called “woefully inadequate” by leaders in the social care sector, could see the average band D council tax bill rising to £1,653.30.

Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, said all councils would be able to raise council tax by up to 2.99% next year to fund local services, which is 1% more than this year. On top of this, 152 councils, which includes all London boroughs, unitary and metropolitan authorities and county councils, will be able to increase it by an additional “precept” 3% to fund social care services.

So: If you rent, you’ll be facing a massive rise, accompanied by a huge council tax increase. Meanwhile the price of groceries is rising above your pay increase (if you’ve been lucky enough to have one), as are your bills from the privatised utility companies that are owned by foreign governments. Oh, and if you take a train to work, you’ll be even further out-of-pocket.

All of these extra burdens on your household budget are due to nothing other than Conservative government policies. It is Theresa May’s intention to impoverish you. If you are a Conservative voter, take careful note of this fact. If you know a Conservative voter, please make them aware of this fact.

Don’t let any Tory claim these measures are necessary – they aren’t.

And if any of them wish you a happy new year, ask them how that is supposed to happen.

Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.

1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.

2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical

3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.

The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here: