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Councils in poorest areas suffering biggest budget cuts, Labour says Councils in poorest areas suffering biggest budget cuts, Labour says
(34 minutes later)
The poorest areas of England have endured council cuts under the coalition worth 16 times as much per household as the richest areas, new research has claimed. The poorest areas of England have endured council cuts under the coalition worth 16 times as much per household as the richest areas, research has claims.
Labour's Hilary Benn, the shadow communities secretary, said his figures showed the government had "failed to apply the basic principle of fairness" when allocating money to local government. Hilary Benn, the shadow communities secretary, said his figures showed the government had "failed to apply the basic principle of fairness" when allocating money to local government.
However, he confirmed that, given Labour's commitment to matching the government's spending plans for 2015/16, a government led by Ed Miliband would not be in a position to raise overall council spending. Instead it would focus on distributing money "more fairly", he said. However, he confirmed that, given Labour's commitment to matching the government's spending plans for 2015-16, a government led by Ed Miliband would not be in a position to raise overall council spending. Instead it would focus on distributing money more fairly, he said.
Benn's figures are based on the amount per household that councils are losing between 2010/11 and 2015/16. Councils covering the 10 most deprived areas of England (measured according to the index of multiple deprivation) are losing £782 on average per household, while authorities covering the richest areas are losing just £48 on average. Benn's figures are based on the amount per household that councils are losing between 2010-11 and 2015-16. Councils covering the 10 most deprived areas of England – measured according to the index of multiple deprivation– are losing £782 on average per household, while authorities covering the richest areas are losing just £48 on average.
Hart district council in Hampshire, the least deprived local authority, is losing £28 per household, while in Liverpool District B, the most deprived area, the figure is £807.Hart district council in Hampshire, the least deprived local authority, is losing £28 per household, while in Liverpool District B, the most deprived area, the figure is £807.
The figures reinforce claims that have been made by organisations such as the Audit Commission, which said in a report last year that "councils in the most deprived areas have seen substantially greater reductions in government funding as a share of revenue expenditure than councils in less deprived areas." The figures reinforce claims that have been made by organisations such as the Audit Commission, the local government spending watchdog, which said in a report last year that "councils in the most deprived areas have seen substantially greater reductions in government funding as a share of revenue expenditure than councils in less deprived areas."
Benn, who released the figures as part of Labour's summer campaign on the theme of "the choice" between Labour and the Tories, said: "The prime minister and the local government secretary say that tough times involve tough choices, but they have forgotten one very important principle. Tough times demand tough choices that are fair.Benn, who released the figures as part of Labour's summer campaign on the theme of "the choice" between Labour and the Tories, said: "The prime minister and the local government secretary say that tough times involve tough choices, but they have forgotten one very important principle. Tough times demand tough choices that are fair.
"And yet if we look at the way in which the Tory-led government has chosen to take most from those who have least – the most deprived local authorities – it is clear just how unfair and unjustifiable this is.""And yet if we look at the way in which the Tory-led government has chosen to take most from those who have least – the most deprived local authorities – it is clear just how unfair and unjustifiable this is."
In an open letter to council leaders, he said: "As we will inherit, and stick to, the government's spending plans for 2015/16, we will not have any more money to give to local government. But there will be one difference; the money we have will be distributed more fairly." In an open letter to council leaders, he said: "As we will inherit, and stick to, the government's spending plans for 2015-16, we will not have any more money to give to local government.
In a response issued by the Department for Communities, Kris Hopkins, the local government minister, attacked Labour's local government record. "But there will be one difference: the money we have will be distributed more fairly."
"Under Labour, council tax bills more than doubled whilst local services like bin collections halved. In a response issued by the department for communities, Kris Hopkins, the local government minister, attacked Labour's local government record: "Under Labour, council tax bills more than doubled whilst local services like bin collections halved.
"Ed Miliband would hike up taxes on people's homes, and in Wales, the Labour government are now actively supporting monthly bin collections. It's clear under Labour, you pay more and get less."Ed Miliband would hike up taxes on people's homes, and in Wales, the Labour government are now actively supporting monthly bin collections. It's clear under Labour, you pay more and get less.
"Local government, which accounts for a quarter of public spending, was strangled in red tape by Labour who turned a blind eye to massive waste and inefficiency in the public sector and ran up massive public debts. Councils need to do their bit to help pay off the deficit that Labour left. Councils can save money through more joint working, better procurement and cutting fraud." "Local government, which accounts for a quarter of public spending, was strangled in red tape by Labour, who turned a blind eye to massive waste and inefficiency in the public sector and ran up massive public debts.
ends "Councils need to do their bit to help pay off the deficit that Labour left. Councils can save money through more joint working, better procurement and cutting fraud."