Andrew Gwynne responds to LGA analysis showing that councils face a funding black hole of almost £8 billion by 2025

Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, responding to new Local Government Association analysis that councils face a funding black hole of almost £8 billion by 2025, said:

"This new analysis is a damning verdict on eight years of Tory austerity. Our public services are straining at the seams, whilst the Government continues to cut funding.

"The LGA and Labour have argued for years that the largest pressures are coming from adult social care and children's services - but yet we have seen no additional funding from the Government, a further delay to the Social Care green paper, and no recognition that this problem even exists.

"Ministers can’t hide from the truth any longer - Tory austerity is decimating our local services. Our communities need a Labour government that will resource our councils to be able to deliver these vital services.”