Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard calls for apology over Telford council cuts

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard has brushed away the council's plea for help in putting the case for more cash at Whitehall – because he says it was the previous Labour government who were responsible for the present economic woes.

The council has already cut £80 million from its budget since 2010 and now faces having to make a further £30 million worth of cuts over the next three years.

Councillor Lee Carter, the authority's cabinet member for finance, drafted a motion at a full council meeting last week calling for help from Mr Pritchard and Telford MP Lucy Allan. The motion calls on the two MPs to back them in the fight for "fairer funding for Telford & Wrekin".

But Mr Pritchard said: "If Labour hadn't wrecked the public finances these savings would never have to be made. It is Labour who nearly bankrupted the country and are the reason why local government budgets are so tight. The Labour group should apologise to local people rather than draft motions."

Ms Allan met the council on Friday to discuss the funding issue. She said: "

I have written on two separate occasions, both to the leader of the council, Councillor Sahota, and the managing director, Richard Partington. I want to try and find a more collaborative approach than the gesture politics and grandstanding that we see from a minority of councillors at present.

"It is disappointing that given a meeting was scheduled, Councillor Carter still saw fit to bring a motion to council rather than contacting me in person. All local authorities are having to make savings.

"If Telford receives less funding per head than other local authorities, I will willingly fight this in Parliament. I am keen to see the evidence this case is based upon so I can take it up in a professional way with the local government minister."