Kingston will elect a new council on May 4, with the parties hoping issues from council tax to Surbiton Hospital will sway your vote their way.

Although Kingston is historically a Tory stronghold, the last local elections were an emphatic victory for the Liberal Democrats, who took 30 seats and an overall majority of 12 over the 15 Tories and three Labour winners. Since then there have been two by-elections with the Lib Dems winning both of them.

The Tories are hoping to change that by highlighting the fact that Kingston has set the highest council tax in London.

A Tory spokesman said: "Since 2000 Kingston Council has increased its staff by 40 per cent and we now have the highest council tax in London. How is it that Conservative controlled Richmond, where they get less grant than us, can freeze their Council Tax?"

But the Liberal Democrats say that Kingston has got a raw deal in funding from central government and the best solution is to scrap the council tax for everyone.

A spokesman said: "Council Tax is the most unfair tax in Britain. It punishes those on low incomes, especially the elderly, and should be scrapped. Only the Liberal Democrats are campaigning and committed to scrapping the Council Tax."

The Lib Dems also point to their record in office of tackling anti-social behaviour and campaigning in favour of saving Surbiton Hospital, while the Tories are calling for a curb on the growth of pubs and clubs in Kingston.

Labour is hoping to improve on its current three councillors by campaigning on the issue of fairness.

A spokesman said: "The Liberal Democrat Council has thrown money at the rich and powerful, giving top council bosses and councillors massive rises, while targeting the vulnerable old, young, disabled, council tenants and deprived neighbourhoods for cuts, charges and neglect.

"Labour would invest in decent homes and public services, with tackling poverty as our top priority."

It also accused the Liberal Democrats of being "soft on crime and anti-social behaviour" although the Lib Dems say that they issue more ASBOs per head than other boroughs with higher crime levels such as Wandsworth and Croydon.

The Green Party is campaigning on the lack of school places in Kingston and on the fight for the future of Surbiton Hospital.

It also called on Kingston to recycle more than its current target of 25 per cent of household waste.

A spokesman said: "Some local authorities are now recycling around 50 per cent of their waste. The Green Party will seek the drawing up of an action plan to achieve the rate and will push for its implementation."

The Christian People's Alliance is calling for changes at the town hall.

A spokesman said: "Our councillors will voluntarily take a 50 per cent cut in their allowance for one year when elected. If all councillors follow our lead, this will save £320,000 p.a. from council costs at a stroke and neutralise the huge rise just given to council executives awarded by a cross party panel of the Lib Dems, Conservatives and Labour last year."

The Socialist Party is campaigning for an end to the market system. A spokesman said: "This is why at work we suffer speed-up, stress, boredom, overwork and accidents. This is why we have to work long hours, shift work and night work. This is why the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe are all polluted."

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