Ronnie Campbell
Main Page: Ronnie Campbell (Labour - Blyth Valley)(10 years, 11 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
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Mr Speaker
The hon. Member for Blyth Valley (Mr Campbell) has often been heard from his seat; it is now time that he was heard on his feet. I call Mr Ronnie Campbell.
Mr Campbell
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and a merry Christmas to you.
Is the Minister aware that in Northumberland, where I come from, we have had to cut £30 million this year and £60 million last year, and we are sacking workers and cutting social services, while education has been cut right down to the bone—and there is no money left? The Minister is living in cloud cuckoo land.
Brandon Lewis
I hope that the hon. Gentleman will go back and convince his local authority, using his great powers of persuasion, to do the right thing by its residents—to cut back-office costs and bureaucracy and perhaps look at our Department’s “50 ways to save” document. That would help the council to protect front-line services rather than try to score political points with people’s everyday lives.