Boris Johnson might dismiss Keir Starmer - but he can't afford to ignore local Tory leaders over council cash woes: The Yorkshire Post says

But Mr Johnson’s tactics also meant that little light was shed on an issue affecting every council in the country, regardless of what political control they are under - that of whether local authorities will be able to balance the books after the pandemic.

When Sir Keir warned that local authority leaders face a choice between cutting core services or facing bankruptcy, Mr Johnson briefly outlined the support that has already been pledged before quickly pivoting to an attack on some Labour councils for not opening schools back up.

However, attempts by the Prime Minister to try to turn this into a party-political issue or conflate the matter with school reopenings should not wash.

Last month, the Conservative leader of Lancashire County Council warned that the impact of coronavirus would be “far in excess” of the £3.2bn of extra funding pledged by the Government to date. That was followed this week by the County Councils Network - whose finance spokesman is Carl Les, the Conservative leader of North Yorkshire County Council - warning they are facing a funding shortfall running into billions.

It comes after Yorkshire council chief executives warned in early May they were so worried many were considering “pressing the nuclear button” and effectively declaring bankruptcy through Section 114 notices en masse.

Pointing the finger at the Opposition over a different matter may work temporarily in PMQs, but Mr Johnson must recognise this deeply serious issue is not going to disappear.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor