Lancashire County Council has unveiled a cuts package that could hit jobs in Lancashire children’s homes and young people’s services. Conservative leaders at County Hall claim they have tried to minimise the impact on frontline operations, following reductions in government grants totalling £22m. But opposition councillors insist the most vulnerable will be hit hardest by the raft of spending cuts.
Stoke-on-Trent City councillor Dave Sutton, who announced he would quit the Liberal Democrats, has been rejected from rejoining the Labour Party. The 60-year-old was initially suspended, along with his brother Paul, for criticising the Labour-led council's budget, and subsequently kicked out.
Former Blackburn with Darwen councillor Michael Johnson has been criticised for making an inflammatory speech at a controversial rally. He was a guest speaker at the English Defence League (EDL) demonstration in Bradford city centre on Saturday. He claimed to be "defending our identity from attack".
Three members of Halton Borough Council have resigned from the Liberal Democrats in protest at the party’s coalition with the Conservatives. Councillors Bob Bryant, Peter Blackmore and Chris Carlin will now serve as independents until their terms are up. Meanwhile, they are "considering their options" over whether to form their own party or leave politics at the next election.