IFS Report on council funding: Govt is robbing Peter to pay Paul

EMBARGO: 0001 Thursday 7th August

Responding to the IFS' report on major reforms to English council funding, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

“This is just robbing Peter to pay Paul. The Government is moving the pain of chronic council underfunding from one community to another instead of delivering the economic growth that would deliver the revenue to fund local services everywhere, especially social care and special educational needs.

“These changes will come as a shock to the system for many councils, which will be forced to make hard choices so Whitehall doesn't have to.

“The Government should be looking to grow the economy to properly fix the mess in local government finance, not passing the buck to already stretched councils to put up concluded.

"The Liberal Democrats will always stand up for protecting local services against the odds, especially social care and special educational needs.”

ENDS