Diane slams ministers over 'hammer blow' to Hackney finances

Diane has slammed Coalition ministers over their decision to impose the biggest local government funding cuts in Hackney, one of the most deprived boroughs in the country.

In a debate in Westminster Hall yesterday, Diane highlighted how £44million pound worth of cuts will be made at Hackney Council – the highest in London and one of the highest in the UK, despite being recognised as one of the most deprived boroughs in the country.

Diane accused ministers of issuing misleading figures which did not take into account the full extent of cuts, saying the real figures showed Hackney would undergo almost 15% cut in 2011-2012, the highest in London, and almost double the 8.9% cut as stated for 2010-2011.

She also pointed out that with cuts to Educational Maintenance Allowance,   housing benefit, job losses in the health sector and rising unemployment, it was unfair for the Department for Communities and Local Government to compare Hackney to Wokingham, a far more well off area.

Diane said:

“I want this Tory-led government to come clean about the true extent of cuts that boroughs like Hackney will experience. People in Hackney and all across London are already suffering disproportionately from the housing benefit cap and public sector job losses, and now we discover they are set to lose out even more from next year.

Hackney will suffer the biggest cut to its funding across the whole of London in 2011-2012, despite being one of the most deprived boroughs in the country, and I find it thoroughly misleading and disheartening for the Coalition to suggest Hackney has gotten off lightly in comparison to areas like Wokingham.

The Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe, and I will do all we can to defend the interests of Hackney residents and expose the true extent of cuts imposed by a government which is cutting too far and too fast.”

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