Cuts hit those in greatest need, admits Minister

People in the "greatest need" will bear the burden of paying off the record levels of debt left by Labour, a Government Minister admitted.

Faced with condemnation of more than 1bn of cuts to local government funding in England, Bob Neill said tackling the "economic mess" was the first thing that needed to be done to provide sustainable public services.

Former communities and local government secretary John Denham at Commons question time said asked Mr Neill: "Why is it the big cities, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham that will take the largest cuts?"

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Mr Neill replied that Mr Denham was a member of a Cabinet which "left this country record levels of debt".

Labour's former Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "It is inevitable that if you cut external funding to authorities based on the fact that they received it specifically because of their levels of deprivation ... those in greatest need will inevitably take the biggest cuts."

Mr Neill was drowned out by uproar from Labour benches as he replied: "Those in greatest need ultimately bear the burden of paying off the debt..."