Steve Reed MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, responding to the Local Government Association’s call for clarity over future funding to help councils during the on-going coronavirus crisis, said:

“Labour backed the Government when they said they would fund councils to do ‘whatever it takes’ to get communities through this crisis.

“But now ministers are back-tracking when councils need certainty about their finances so they can keep emergency support going and plan for the recovery. If the Government break their promise, essential services will be cut, and key workers on the frontline will lose their jobs in the middle of the crisis.

“The Government must stand by its pledge – they cannot go out and cheer our key workers one week – and then break their promises to them the next.”