Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, responding to the Public Accounts Committee’s report on the financial sustainability of local authorities, said:

“David Cameron said that those with the broadest shoulders would bear the greatest burden, but this cross-party report by the Public Accounts Committee shows that the poorest communities with the greatest needs have been hit hardest.

“While almost every community across England has faced spending reductions, some of the least deprived places – councils like Surrey Heath and Wokingham – will actually have seen an increase in their spending power under this Tory-led Government.

“A Labour Government will end the bias against areas with the greatest needs by ensuring that the funding we have is distributed more fairly. And we will give local government multi-year funding settlements so that communities can better plan ahead, deliver savings and reform and protect services.”

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