Conservative government taking Leicestershire for granted leaves county in dire financial situation

Years of government taking Leicestershire for granted means people in the county are facing swingeing cuts to local services.

Leicestershire is the worst funded County Council in the country by the Conservative government. Now Leicestershire County Council are facing making big cuts to public services to bridge the funding gap. The County Council is looking to have to fill a budget gap of £28 million which could pass £140 million in 2026.

Responding to the news, leader of the opposition on Leicestershire County Council Liberal Democrat Cllr Michael Mullaney said "The Tory government has taken Leicestershire for granted and the people of Leicestershire are now having to pay the price. All the MPs in Leicestershire County are Conservative MPs and we've had a Conservative run County Council for over 20 years. Yet Leicestershire still receives the lowest funding of any County. They have totally failed to deliver for local people.

"The consequence of this is that the people of our county will be hit by major service cuts. We await what services will be cut but the likely casualties could be bus services, particularly in rural areas, cut back even further. Cuts to County Council Highways budgets would mean damaged roads and pavements left unrepaired longer. It could mean the school crossing people that are left being cut.

"We have a Conservative administration that's bankrupt of ideas and virtually bankrupt too.

"Whatever cuts are made are likely to be deep and affect the everyday lives of many people in Leicestershire. Responsibility lies with the Tory government for taking our area for granted by funding us worse than anywhere else. And with our Tory MPs and County Council who have totally failed to persuade their Conservative government to fairly fund our County."