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Shock Figures Reveal Scale of Council Tax Debt Crackdown Across Britain
GMB said 25,388 Blackpool council tax accounts are in arrears, and more than 15,000 residents were summoned to court in 2025/26.
- On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the GMB Union reported that Blackpool Council is owed more than £32 million in unpaid council tax, with 25,388 household accounts currently in arrears.
- GMB National Secretary Rachel Harrison described the council tax system as 'completely broken,' arguing that cash-strapped local authorities are increasingly forced to pursue residents through courts to recover bills.
- Data collected by the GMB Union indicates that 15,671 Blackpool residents were summoned to court during 2025/26, reflecting a broader national trend of over 1.5 million court actions regarding unpaid council tax.
- Leader of Blackpool Council Cllr Lynn Williams noted the area has the lowest average council tax in Lancashire, adding that support is available for over 32,000 vulnerable or low-income households.
- The union is calling for guaranteed central government funding, business rates changes, and council tax reform so the wealthiest residents contribute their fair share to regenerate local high streets.
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1.5 million taken to court over council tax debt, GMB investigation finds
AT LEAST 1.5 million people were taken to court over unpaid council tax last year, according to a new investigation by the GMB union. The union said the figures showed a council tax system “completely broken”, with cash-strapped local authorities forced to pursue residents through the courts to recover unpaid bills. The findings, released ahead of GMB’s annual congress in Blackpool on Tuesday (Jun 9), were based on Freedom of Information request…
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