Title

FINANCE

Labour criticises 'politically-motivated' cuts

Spending cuts to less affluent Labour councils are five times higher than in wealthier Tory areas, according to new research.

Spending cuts to less affluent Labour councils are five times higher than in wealthier Tory areas, according to new research.

Research from Labour focusing on the period 2012 to 2020 has revealed the average cut per household in Conservative-controlled areas will be £68 by the end of this parliament while for Labour authorities the number is more than £340.

Labour criticised the cuts as ‘politically-motivated'.

The Conservatives are in charge of eight out of 10 of the councils that will receive the smallest cuts while Labour controls the 10 councils that will be hit by the biggest cuts to spending power. 

Labour's research also found nine of the 10 most deprived areas are facing higher than average cuts. 

Jon Trickett, shadow communities secretary, said: ‘Local government is under enormous pressure because of politically-motivated Tory cuts that hit the poorest hardest.?

‘The cuts are draconian. 

‘They are also vindictive.'

FINANCE

Nobody ever voted for a map

By Ben Page | 17 August 2026

Rewiring the State offers the most significant shift in local government for a generation, but there is still a lot that has been left unwritten, says Ben Page.

FINANCE

Could changing the way we think about care help deliver economic growth?

By Jim McKenna | 14 August 2026

Research commissioned by Cornwall Council shows social care drives economic growth, jobs, wellbeing and wider social value, says Cllr Jim McKenna.

FINANCE

Legal threat to Burnham asylum plan

By Dan Peters | 14 August 2026

Reform UK and the Conservatives could launch legal challenges to prevent Prime Minister Andy Burnham from spreading asylum accommodation more evenly across t...

FINANCE

Council tax harmonisation warning

By Dan Peters | 13 August 2026

Local authorities heading towards reorganisation face a lose-lose scenario on how to harmonise varying council tax bills, a finance director has warned.

Popular articles by William Eichler