Posted on 2016-12-12 | 03:04

The Birmingham group of nine Labour MPs, including Roger, wrote to Phillip Hammond MP to ask for a fair funding deal, and to warn that without one the consequences for Britain’s second city would be “catastrophic”.

The MPs wrote that: “Birmingham City Council has suffered the biggest cuts in local government history - and this reflects a gross unfairness in the way funding to the city has been calculated.

“The net effect of this is to create a shortfall of approximately £150m in the council finances next year, risking the closure of children’s centres, leisure centres, libraries and cutbacks to vital elderly care services. “Birmingham was promised fairness but when the Government announced a £300 million transition fund, not one penny went to the city. 83p in every pound went to Tory shire counties and councils.”

The MPs called on the Chancellor to act to end the unfairness still built into the local government finance settlement for Birmingham. They wrote that: “Birmingham is great city, an ambitious city, a dynamic city but it is also a city of high need. The consequences of a £150 million black hole in the City’s budget next year are unthinkable. Unless the Government acts now, grave damage will be done to the social fabric of Birmingham and Brummies in need of care and support will be let down.”