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Knowsley worst affected by ‘double hit’ cuts

Knowsley in Merseyside is the worst hit area for cuts made by central and local government, according to new analysis released by the Labour Party.

Labour accused the Conservative Party of dealing out a double dose of cuts with local governments to the most deprived areas of the UK.

Data gathered by the party showed that Knowsley has suffered a total loss of £850 per head with £515 taken away in welfare cuts and £336 lost through local government cuts.

The least affected area in the UK was Mole Valley in Surrey, where £182 was lost per head, with £164 taken away in welfare cuts and just £18 taken by local government.

Regionally, the North West has lost £508 per head coming under the North East and London, which lost £566 and £511 respectively.

The South East is the least affected region, with only £292 worth of cuts per head, while two thirds of people affected by tax credits or welfare reforms are in work, according to the Labour Party’s statistics.

Liam Byrne, MP and Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary commented: “The Tories are zeroing in on areas in need and hitting them hard – twice.

“Communities facing the biggest hit to local government are also losing most from cuts to their tax credits and benefits, yet instead of helping working families the Tories are giving millionaires a tax cut.

“That tells you everything you need to know about this Government’s priorities.”

Bob Neill, Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party, hit back at Labour’s accusations, and said welfare reforms were helping people back into work and saving public money.

He commented: “This Government is saving taxpayers’ money – we have cut income tax for the low-paid, frozen council tax for hard-working families and pensioners, and are reforming welfare to back those who do the right thing and want to get on.

“Our welfare reforms will help people back to work - which will benefit the economy far more than the Labour alternative of simply abandoning people to claim benefits year after year.

“Labour have opposed every single saving in local government, despite the fact that Alistair Darling was planning £52 billion of cuts before the election.

“Labour’s only solution now is to tax more and borrow more, which would mean soaring tax bills on hard-working people.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .