Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, responding to IFS figures on local government spending, said:

“These figures confirm the shocking way in which the most deprived areas have faced the biggest reductions in spending under David Cameron. The Tories said those with the broadest shoulders should bear the greatest burden but they have done the very opposite. Another Tory Government will continue to treat areas with the greatest needs unfairly.

"Labour will distribute funding to councils more fairly based on need and end the bias against the poorest communities, giving local authorities longer-term funding settlements so they can plan ahead to best protect the local services on which people rely.”

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