One of most destructive acts of the Cameron-Osborne era was the decision to target austerity on local government.
Robert Saunders
I’m amazed anyone needs reminding of this, but local government spending power per person fell by 18% from 2010 to 2024 (would have been 26% but for increases in council tax).
At the same time, social care pressures on local govt have grown a lot. The decay of the public realm is NOT a mystery
Increases in council funding over the last parliament have not reversed big cuts made during the 2010s, with spending on many services still down 40%.
