Letter: Council Funding is a Tory Problem

Published on: 7 Aug, 2017
Updated on: 8 Aug, 2017

From George Potter

In response to: A Kingston View: Serious Financial Situation Continues at the County Council

I have a question for Cllr Keith Witham. There are 11 Conservative MPs representing Surrey in parliament, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Health Secretary and other government ministers.

The DUP have 10 MPs representing constituencies in Northern Ireland and this Conservative government found a £1.5 billion bung, some have called a “bribe” (all legal, of course), to secure their support in parliament.

Why, therefore, can’t our Conservative MPs do something to secure additional funding for Surrey rather than going along with unsustainable spending cuts for local government?

It’s all very well wringing your hands and going “it’s not my fault guv” but the fact is that it’s Cllr Witham’s party who is running the country and the county. If they’re not responsible for the situation then who on earth is?

Responses to Letter: Council Funding is a Tory Problem

Brian Creese Reply

August 8, 2017 at 10:32 am

It is tempting to ask, “What have the Tories ever done for us in Surrey?” but, unlike the recognised benefits obtained from the Romans, rather harder to come up with the answers. Failing social services, an increasingly privatised NHS with services closing, being relocated or changed in scope (eg stroke services, sexual health clinics), they are closing our tips and switching off the lights.

We have a Tory Government, entirely Tory MPs representing Surrey, an almost entirely Tory county council, and in Guildford a Tory local council. Are people really so happy with the results that they still think there is no alternative to yet more years of Tory dictatorship?

Brian Creese is the communications secretary for Guildford Labour