News from East Midlands Labour

Cameron’s cuts would threaten key services in the East Midlands warns Phil Hope

Reacting to the release of a dossier showing which key services in the East Midlands would be put at risk under Conservative spending plans, Phil Hope MP, Labour’s Regional Minister for the East Midlands said:

“At a time when Labour is bringing forward investment in our key services to boost the economy in the East Midlands and provide real help now for families, Conservative spending plans would put all this at risk.

“David Cameron and the local Tories have not only opposed the investment that we want to bring forward in the East Midlands, but he has committed his party to cuts that would threaten key local services like transport, police and schools.

“For the East Midlands this would put at risk transport schemes such as the dualling of the A46 and junction improvements on the M1. Conservative cuts to Labour’s Home Office budget could also mean 231 less police officers in the East Midlands and would also put at risk 235 local school rebuilding projects.

“As well as these cuts, David Cameron’s idea of a council tax freeze is a council tax con. His commitment to cut the budget for local authorities by £240 million if there was a Conservative government is the equivalent of an extra one per cent on every council tax bill.

Hazel Blears MP, Labour’s Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government echoed Phil’s concerns: “It is vital that the boost we have given to the economy at a national level gets through to every local economy of every town and city in Britain. We are determined to work with local authorities to ensure our investment reaches every part of the country.”

Other news from East Midlands Labour

• Minister joins Mums and Dads across the East Midlands to Save Our Sure Start - 17 March 2010
• New figures reveal Car Srappage Scheme's success in the East Midlands - 15 January 2010
• It would be great to see "football coming home to Nottingham" - 17 December 2009