MP hits out at 'brutal' cuts

MP Debbie Abrahams

DEBBIE Abrahams has hit out at brutal and devastating cuts that will see a cut of £10.11m every year in Revenue Support Grant scheduled.

The MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth hit out at the government's decision to make further cuts to Oldham's local government funding.

Analysis of the Local Government Finance Settlement by the Local Government Association reveal local councils will receive £2.2 billion less in Revenue Support Grant to run vital local services in 2017/8 than last year, which will see a cut of £10.11m every year in Revenue Support Grant scheduled for Oldham.

Debbie said: "This is more bad news for Oldham East and Saddleworth as Tory cuts puts key local services under pressure."

She said: "While we are glad the government has finally acknowledged there is a deep and spiralling crisis in social care, this settlement does not offer any solutions.

"The council tax precept has already proven to be an inadequate and short-term sticking plaster for a problem that needs long-term answers.

"There are 1.2 million elderly people who are living without the care they need. The government have no new ideas on how to fund social care, and are just passing the buck to overstretched local authorities and council tax payers. The government needs a long-term, sustainable and strategic vision for social care. Elderly people and vulnerable disabled people are suffering because of the government's inaction."