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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics

Birmingham’s budget crisis won’t be solved by another round of Tory cuts

Birmingham Phil Davis Michael Gove
Birmingham City Council House
Birmingham City Council House. ‘Birmingham has lost 11,000 staff and £1bn in government grant since 2011. This loss of capacity has damaged essential services and the council’s ability to manage,’ writes Cllr Phil Davis. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

It may be convenient for Michael Gove’s appointed commissioner to blame Labour councillors for Birmingham’s budget crisis (Birmingham city council ignored bankruptcy warning signs, says expert, 12 November), but the £4bn funding crisis in wider local government sets the real context.

Birmingham has lost 11,000 staff and £1bn in government grant since 2011. This loss of capacity has damaged essential services and the council’s ability to manage.

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