Cuts to local government make a mockery of Cameron’s claim that "we’re all in this together"

The Tory Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has today announced a raft of cuts to local government totalling £1.165bn. The cuts have been made from funding streams within the Area Based Grant, which is targeted at councils in areas with high levels of deprivation, not from the councils’ formula grant.

Responding to the announcements, Sir Jeremy Beecham, Leader of the LGA Labour Group said: “These cuts will be a major blow to people up and down the country who depend on services that are now to be slashed. While the Lib Dem-Tory Coalition sit in their Westminster offices tearing up funding for grants, the harsh reality of these cuts will be all too painfully felt in our communities.

“Victims of Pickles’ axe include initiatives to tackle worklessness in England’s most deprived areas, housing related support to vulnerable people and programmes to boost community cohesion in poor areas. Housing delivery funding has also been cut, undermining the prospects for crucial housing development that the Labour Government worked so hard to support through the recession.

“Cameron’s claim that ‘we are all in this together’ has today been exposed as a sham. By choosing to cut a grant that is targeted at councils in areas with high levels of deprivation, the Lib Dem-Tory Coalition has shown it is all too willing to let the poorest shoulder the greatest burden. The Government has taken the first opportunity to slash funding for services on which vulnerable people depend.

“This ‘new politics’ is unfortunately the same old Tory wolf in sheep’s clothing – only this time the Liberal Democrats are colluding in the shameful enterprise.”