Letter: What the Lib Dems Did Not Mention About the GBC Budget

Published on: 15 Feb, 2026
Updated on: 15 Feb, 2026

From Brian Creese

Labour Party campaigner

I notice that nowhere in the Lib Dems’ triumphal accounts of their heroic balancing of the GBC budget they mention the massive contribution made by your Labour Government.

Not only has Labour made more money available for local authorities but they have given Guildford a 7.5 per cent uplift. This is specifically to account for the greater level of deprivation in Guildford – Waverley, for instance received only a 0.5 per cent uplift and Spelthorne just 0.6 per cent.

I find it strange that the Lib Dems haven’t been making a great deal of noise about this generous settlement from the government.

On the other hand, given that this extra money is to deal with the greater levels of deprivation in Guildford it would have been good to see some of it allocated to the areas of greatest need – Bellfields, Slyfield, Westborough, council tenants, youth facilities etc.

The Lib Dems seem to have decided to just grab this extra money for the general budget and then crow about how well they have done! This is so cynical you could almost believe there is an election in sight…

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