A Wirral MP has slated the government for what he claims is an “attack” on the public sector.
Speaking in a House of Commons debate led by Wirral West MP Margaret Greenwood, Birkenhead MP Mick Whitley said: “It is an ideologically motivated attack on the public sector, perpetrated by successive Conservative Chancellors, and it has devastated the lives of thousands of people who I represent.
“Youth services have been decimated, benefits have been slashed and the basic support on which so many people rely has been stripped to the bone.
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"Birkenhead is now bracing itself for a renewed onslaught on frontline services, and it is our youngest and most vulnerable who will be hit the hardest of all.”
The Labour MP's tirade against the government comes after a period of massive cuts to Wirral Council’s budget.
In Tuesday’s debate, Margaret Greenwood said analysis from the National Audit Office (NAO) showed that in 2010 Wirral Council received just over £266m in government funding, but by 2020 that figure was down to just over £40m – a fall of around 85%.
Ms Greenwood said the figures showed that despite income from other sources such as business rates rising, it has come nowhere near to making up the shortfall created by Conservative government cuts, with Wirral Council receiving over £110m less in overall annual income in 2020 than it did in 2010.
This year, the local authority must save £20m to balance its budget.
To save this money, Wirral Council has proposed closing Woodchurch Leisure Centre, 11 libraries, two public golf courses and more.
The cuts are not yet set in stone and could be scrapped by councillors, but Wirral Council must agree to a budget which saves £20m on February 28.
On the cuts plans, the Labour MP for Wirral West said: “Woodchurch Leisure Centre and swimming pool are much loved by residents and groups, including Woodchurch Swimming Club, and serve thousands of people across Wirral.
“Leisure centres and swimming pools are vital to people’s health, well-being and relaxation. It cannot be right that this important facility is at risk of closure as a result of cuts by central government.”
Ms Greenwood added: “Libraries are important for introducing children to reading, for enabling people to explore and enjoy books at all stages of life and to provide internet access to those who do not have it at home. They also act as invaluable community hubs and help tackle social isolation.
“The implications of the proposals that have been brought forward are extremely serious. Wirral Council, like so many others across Merseyside and the rest of the country, is having to make up for prolonged, brutal cuts by Conservative governments.”
Wallasey MP Angela Eagle also spoke in the debate.
The Labour MP said: “The past 11 years of Conservative rule have seen an unrelenting assault on the budgets of local authorities, but that assault has been worse in some places than in others.
“That has been a conscious choice made by successive Conservative governments in full knowledge of the consequences, which is why the phrase ‘levelling up’ rings so hollow on the Wirral and Merseyside.”
Also speaking in the debate, Conservative MP Neil O’Brien, under-secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, said: “As we announced on Monday, the local government finance settlement for the next year makes an additional £3.7bn available to councils in England, that includes funding for adult social care reform.
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“This is an increase in local authority funding of more than 4.5% in real terms compared with the previous year, and we expect core spending power— the measure of resources available to local authorities to fund service delivery— to rise from £50.4bn in 2021-22 to £54.1bn in 2022-23, which I am just about to come to."
Mr O’Brien added: “I emphasise that the government are providing around £1.6bn in additional grant [funding] in the next year through the settlement, and through Toggle showing location of funding for things such as the supporting families programme and cyber-resilience.
“What that means for Merseyside is that core spending power will increase for all authorities in the region by at least 7.7%, compared with last year.”
