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Member of Parliament for Bradford East@DavidWardMP on Twitter and Facebook |
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David Ward MP <>
Front loading council cuts "reckless economic vandalism"
December 7, 2010 12:00 AM
Bradford MP, David Ward, has spoken out against Eric Pickles' decision to "front load" local government cuts, calling it "reckless economic vandalism".
David Ward's comments came during a House of Commons debate on local government funding, in advance of funding settlements later this week.
Pickles' plans will see councils having to find the majority of savings in the first two years of the Spending Review Period.
Commenting, David Ward said:
"There is no doubt that Bradford Council can deliver its share of the reductions required to deal with the massive burden of debt the country faces but it needs to be reasoned and delivered in agreement not in haste."
"We cannot turn the super tanker around in such a short time. Bradford is faced with reducing £60 million on a net budget of £450 million in the first year. That is not planned, structural, cultural change, it is simply reckless, economic vandalism.
"If we don't give councils the time they need to make these changes it will end up costing us more in the long term. It's time Pickles recognised the damage his approach will cause and told us that it will be abandoned."