Steve Reed responds to the Local Government Finance Settlement Statement

“The Conservatives’ mishandling of this crisis has plunged us into the deepest recession of all major developed economies, and has now confirmed a funding gap for councils.

“This will inevitably lead to job losses, cuts in frontline services like adult social care, and the closure of yet more treasured libraries and leisure centres.

“To add to the misery, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak is hiking council tax to pay for this Government’s mistake – the message is clear: you pay more but get less under the Conservatives.”