The Tories claim ‘austerity is coming to an end’ after Tuesday’s budget announcement.

Labour leader of Bolton Council Linda Thomas says the claims are overstated. She points to repeated cuts in public funding and referred to the Breaking Point campaign, which claims a lack of spending could lead to council’s falling into bankruptcy.

“The Tories have announced the end of austerity three times now and still haven’t delivered,” Cllr Thomas said.

“They have failed to take the promised large-scale action in this budget to end austerity. School funding promised in the budget falls far short of the £1bn to stop further cuts to per-pupil school funding and doesn’t even make a dent in reversing a decade of damage.

“We have the highest ever number of children in care, since 1985. We face a £2bn funding gap and system ‘at breaking point’. Spending on youth services has been cut and there was no promise to end this.”