Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, responding to the Government announcement on flood defences, said:

“Communities at risk of flooding won’t buy Government spin on what is simply a re-announcement of capital funding confirmed a year ago. This is not new money - at the beginning of this parliament David Cameron cut the flood protection budget by over a £100m a year.

“As a result we are playing catch up on flood defences. The Committee on Climate on Change has already said that the Government’s plans could leave 80,000 additional properties at serious risk of flooding.

“There have been reports of a £500m black hole in these plans which the Government expect communities to meet themselves. This kind of uncertainty is unfair on those affected - we need a proper long term plan for infrastructure investment including flooding which is why we have called for an Independent National Infrastructure Commission.”