Published on LGA Daily News Headlines 11 February 2019

Philip Hammond must find an extra £5 billion in this year’s Whitehall spending review to reverse planned cuts and meet his claim of ending austerity, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

The thinktank told the Chancellor that funds pledged in last year’s budget to boost NHS spending, defence and international aid failed to safeguard local councils and some of the worst-hit government departments from further shortfalls.

Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s Resources Board, said: “If the Government fails to adequately fund local government in the spending review then there is a real risk to the future financial viability of some services and councils. Councils were at the front of the queue when austerity started so local services should be at the front of the queue if it is coming to an end.”
Guardian p35, BBC Online, Sky News Online, FT p2