Local Government Finance

Dennis Skinner Excerpts

Tuesday 5th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Gwynne]

I will give way in a little while.

I have talked about the shift of resources out of some of the most deprived communities in England. Yet contrast that with the councils that have seen the smallest cuts in cash terms—or in some cases, increases—over the nine years of Tory austerity. Seven out of the 10 areas seeing the smallest cuts to spending power per household are Conservative-controlled councils. That is very clearly what is going on here. Let me give the Secretary of State and his MPs the facts. The Isles of Scilly have seen a £337 per household increase in spending power, Wokingham a £40 per household increase, Horsham a £16 per household increase, Surrey—the council of the Chancellor—a £13.12 increase, Hart a £9 increase, Uttlesford an £8 increase, Stratford-upon-Avon a £7 increase, and Tonbridge and Malling a £4 increase. It is only when we get to places like Maidstone that we start to see spending power cuts over the past nine years —of just £6.78 per household.

Of the councils that are getting increases, not one of them is a Labour council. It is an unfair funding system peddled by a Secretary of State and Government who are recklessly gambling with our communities.

[Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab)]

It is even worse than that. This ever diminishing cake has now been subject to the Prime Minister—not the Secretary of State, the Prime Minister—offering bribes to people who are going to—[Interruption.] This is part of the system, and it can affect any area—

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Sir Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. [Interruption.] Order. Mr Skinner. Just one second. We cannot use the word “bribes”.

[Mr Skinner]

This will come out of local government—

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

Order. One of us has to sit down, and unfortunately I just need to say this. We have to make our point—I totally agree—and you always make a point very well, but we cannot use the word “bribes”.

[Mr Skinner]

This money will come out of local government—make no mistake—even though it is a bribe. That is why we on these Benches are not going to take it. We are not going to sully the amount of money going to local authorities that we understand—

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

Order. Mr Skinner, please.

[Mr Skinner]

If you don’t understand, you shouldn’t be in the job.

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

I am sorry that we have got to that level. I said that Members cannot use the word “bribes”, because I do not believe—

[Mr Skinner]

That is what it is.

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

I am explaining that that is not the case.