Christmas credit card bills have arrived, but on top of that, this year, a cost-of-living crisis has hit hard.

Food and fuel prices are on the up. Having loaded your trolley on the weekly shop at Tesco, Asda or Morrison's the cost of filling up at the petrol station has shot up too.

We’re talking about the basics here, not life’s luxuries. Even a tin of baked beans is a quid now. We’ve all noticed the crunch at the checkout. For many families though it is a visit to the foodbank not a trip to the supermarket.

Read more: 'Robin Hood tax on energy giants will slash Watford residents' heating bills'

Hertfordshire County Council set to increase council tax by maximum amount possible

Inflation is surging, but wages are not. Boris Johnson has raised the tax burden to a 70-year high and a manifesto-breaking 10% rise in National Insurance is on the cards this April. All this at a time when the Government has allowed criminals to get away with £4.3 billion in Covid loan fraud. This is the cost of having a Conservative MP.

Heating and lighting bills are eye-watering. This is a crisis all of the Tories’ own making and the Liberal Democrats have added to the misery. Here in Watford they’ve pushed up the cost of dying let alone the cost of living by increasing burial fees.

Read more: Councillor slams 'cruel' plan to raise burial costs during pandemic

Tax increase as council passes 'ambitious' budget to regenerate town

Council tax will be going up again in April thanks to Tory-run Hertfordshire County Council and Liberal Democrat-run Watford Council.

In contrast, Labour is on your side. We would cut VAT on fuel, levy a one-off windfall tax on the excess profits of the privatised energy companies and oppose the Tories’ National Insurance hike, which is the last thing Watford’s working people need.

  • Asif Khan is chairman of Watford Labour Party