“We Already Pay For This”...Hartlepool Labour’s £1 Million “Clean-Up” Announcement Slammed as An Election Stunt...

Three of Hartlepool Labour Councillors pictured are up for election in May 2026

Locals went online to criticise the Labour Controlled Hartlepool Borough Council for championing an initiative that locals should be getting as part of their Council Tax & not as a one off !

4th November 2025

The Labour Controlled Hartlepool Borough Council has launched another round of glossy social-media fanfare this week, proudly announcing a £1 million “clean-up investment” in the town — complete with emojis, slogans, and a self-congratulatory victory lap.

But, thankfully, many residents aren't buying it !

The Labour-run council, now in power locally and supported by a Labour Government nationally, claims the spending marks a “historic” moment for Hartlepool — promising litter teams, CCTV, bollards, park repairs, enforcement patrols, and graffiti squads.

The problem, however, is that Local people say this isn’t investment at all — it’s what they already should be paying for with their council tax.

“You don’t get praise for doing your actual job”

Social media reaction from Hartlepool residents was swift and overwhelmingly critical. Many questioned why the council thinks it deserves applause for simply carrying out its basic public services:

“How is this a success? We already fund street cleaners, enforcement officers and waste services. This is like celebrating collecting council tax or emptying bins.”

Another resident didn’t hold back:

“This isn’t investment. It’s desperation. The Elections are coming and Labour knows Hartlepool's Voting Reform.”

Election Engineering?

Labour has been quietly campaigning for months in Hartlepool ahead of the May 2026 elections. And with vote-share already looking shaky, Labours latest announcement reeks of political insurance.

A big shiny “£1 million clean-up plan” makes great leaflet material — especially for a party nervous about voters drifting to Reform UK..

Labour’s problem seems to be one of political ignorance, People in Hartlepool aren’t as easily impressed as they might think. Residents remember years of the previous Labour administration, with potholes, fly-tipping, and neighbourhood decline — now supposedly being fixed when Labour needs the votes, it also becomes especially ironic, when the photo published online featured no less than three Labour Councillors who are set to defend their council seats in May 2026 & in areas considered to be 'prime territory' for Reform UK to gain in May next year.

Reform UK Surge Looms Over Labour

If Labour expected applause, they may be in for a shock. As it seems Many locals have already made their minds up as to who they'll be voting for in the May local elections— and they’re voting Reform UK.

One resident summed up the general mood perfectly:

“Too little, too late. We gave Labour a chance. They put up the Council Tax as soon as they got back into the council. They’ve done nothing but sling mud at other political parties online. Reform’s getting my vote in 2026.”

For a party that once treated Hartlepool like a guaranteed seat in the red wall, the growing shift should be setting off alarms at Labour HQ. But instead, Labour seems to believe PR slogans & clean up events will save them.

Hartlepool Wants Real Leadership, Not Self-Promotion

Council clean-ups, CCTV, and park repairs aren’t revolutionary — they’re the bare minimum any functioning local council should be delivering without needing a national government handout or a boastful social media blitz.

Critics claim that if Labour thinks this is proof they're “getting things done,” it shows how low their bar really is.

For many, the latest announcement isn't a triumph — it's confirmation that Labour is terrified of potentially losing control of Hartlepool Borough Council next May.

And judging by the public mood, they should be.