Angela Rayner urged to reverse Government cuts to Westmorland and Furness Council

On the floor of the House of Commons yesterday, South Lakes MP Tim Farron strongly urged the Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner, to reverse the Government’s decision to slash funding for Westmorland and Furness Council.

The Government is cutting their funding over the next three years by around £400 for each and every household in the Westmorland and Furness area.

Speaking during a statement in Parliament, Tim said: “Will the Secretary of State confirm that the mayoral election in Cumbria will go ahead as planned and that the planned combined authority will be introduced without further hindrance, disruption or uncertainty? 

“Will she also take this opportunity to review the other mistake that this Government have made on devolution in the last couple of years: the errors when it comes to what is referred to, wrongly, as ‘fairer funding’? 

“Westmorland and Furness is the most rural unitary authority in England, and for that crime it has borne the penalty of a 31% cut in its funding from the Government, meaning that devolution no longer looks like devolution of power and instead looks more like a delegation of cuts for the people of Cumbria.

Angela Rayner replied: “I recognise what local government has been through after 14 years of the Conservatives - in fact, I think the honourable gentleman’s party was involved at the time. 

“In trying to recognise the challenges that areas face, I believe that what I am saying today about local government reorganisation does not impact on the timetable for devolution. 

“I believe that that will go ahead, and unitary local government can help with the smooth functioning of strategic authorities.”