Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, commenting on reports that council workers have been offered a two-year pay deal, said:

“Labour leaders in Local Government have worked tirelessly to urge the Government to scrap the 1 per cent pay cap and provide funding to give public sector workers the pay rise they deserve.

“Local government workers provide an important and essential service to the public, but for years they have seen their pay held back by this Government in the name of austerity.

“Given the Tories’ harsh cuts to local authority budgets, it is vital that additional funding is provided to back up this pledge, to avoid simply placing extra burden on already over-strained budgets.”