Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, commenting on the NAO report on the financial sustainability of local authorities 2014 and the impact of funding reductions on local authorities said:

“This report reveals the true impact of the decisions David Cameron’s government has made, with housing and leisure facilities having taken the biggest hit. It also confirms that Cameron and Pickles have taken most funding away from areas with the greatest need, which is fundamentally unfair.

“It is now clear that an increasing number of councils are facing serious financial pressures, but CLG ministers are completely out-of-touch. That’s why the NAO has told them to start finding out what is actually happening in communities up and down the country.”