Stockport Labour Group has warned of the consequences of a high risk, unfair and vague Council budget that was passed tonight by Stockport Lib Dems.

The Lib Dems’ budget was passed on Tuesday 5 March after the Independent Ratepayers supported a Budget that will see £28m cut from the Council’s budgets over the next two years.

Stockport’s Labour councillors spoke out against the Budget and voted against it.

Cllr Andy Verdeille, Leader of Stockport Labour Group, commented after the risky budget was passed: “The Lib Dems are presiding over the disintegration of local government in Stockport. Their budget, supported by the Independent Ratepayers, hits children and the vulnerable the hardest.

“The cuts are unfair and extremely risky. Council Officers have even said that the cuts open the Council to a risk of being taken to Judicial Review in some areas and some of the cuts are likely to mean that the number of young people falling into unemployment will increase.

“What makes tonight all the more terrible is that the Lib Dems will be back here next year cutting the budget again. The Council will have to go on cutting its budgets year after year because the Lib Dem and Tory Government is running the economy into the ground, borrowing more money as a result and passing on swingeing cuts.”

Tonight’s budget cuts around £28m from services in 2013/14 and 2014/15. These cuts are part of £79m of cuts that will be made to the Council between 2011/12 and 2016/17. The cuts so far in funding from the Lib Dem and Tory Government have meant that £97 has been cut for each person in Stockport.