Michael Howard attacked Labour on local government and red tape

Speaking in Birmingham, party leader Michael Howard said Conservative councils charged £53 less on average for a Band D property.

He also promised to cut back on "excessive central bureaucracy".

In Wales, the party lacks control of any council, although a Conservative leads the Vale of Glamorgan.

Mr Howard said: "Local government should be independent and accountable.

"Local government should give offer value for money. So we have to cut through the red tape and bureaucracy that pushes up costs.

Labour has piled on regulation after regulation but haven't given local councils the funding to d the job Michael Howard

"Local government should promote opportunity for all and show compassion for those who need our help.

"But it should also step back when people need to take control for themselves.

"Above all local government should live up to its name. It should be genuinely local."

The "tentacles of Whitehall" had begun "to strangle local councils", according to the Tory leader.

He claimed councils had less control over the money they spent, saying 12% of local government funding was ring-fenced, compared to less than 5% in 1997.

"Labour has piled on regulation after regulation but haven't given local councils the funding to d the job.

"Instead, the bill has fallen on the taxpayer," he added.