Conservatives called on the government to scrap the rebanding of council tax, which could see local bills go up by 44% in 2007.

The hike is based on revaluing properties, which in Wales has led to three in four homes moving up one or two bands. In West Berkshire, most homes are predicted to move up two bands.

Lib Dems fought the election on replacing council tax with a local income tax, but came under fire as it would make working couples pay more, and pensioners less.

Bitter recriminations ensued from the May 5 double defeat for the Lib Dems – their 14 years of running West Berkshire Council was also overturned – with observers variously blaming pro-hunt activists helping Mr Benyon, plans to ban cars and cycles from the Market Place, or simply the desire for a new face, as reasons for a result against the grain nationally.

In the debate on council tax rebanding yesterday, Mr Benyon joined the local income tax debate, when he said: “Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating the Liberal Democrats on their wonderful website, "Axe the Tax"? That is one of the reasons why I am here, because towards the end of the general election I ended up suggesting to householders that they look at the proposal to see how much more the local income tax would cost them.”

To read the full debate, go to: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2005-07-04.22.1&s=speaker%3A11727#g74.0