Easington MP Grahame Morris has welcomed the Labour Government’s announcement that Durham County Council will get a £170 million cash injection for essential services – a 27% increase in the Council’s spending power.  

Under the Tories, local authorities were starved of investment, with core spending power down by around a quarter since 2010. That put immense pressure on councils up and down the country, including Durham County Council.  

But the Labour Government has announced a radical overhaul of how local government is funded, reversing Rishi Sunak’s cheap political efforts to put money into wealthy shires and Tory seats.  

Fair Funding is the next step on Labour’s journey to reverse a decade and a half of austerity and decline under the Conservatives, and build stronger communities.  

England’s councils will get almost £78 billion for essential services with more money going to places with the greatest need.  

The funding injection is aimed at restoring pride and opportunity in places that have been left behind, to get back what has been lost. Councils will have more resources available to bring back libraries, youth services, clean streets, and community hubs.  

The money is part of the first multi-year funding settlement in over a decade, giving councils three years of financial certainty so they can plan ahead rather than firefight year to year.  

In total, by the end of this multi-year settlement, councils will see an increase of over 23 per cent in their core spending power compared to 2024-25 to pay for services including bin collections, housing, and children’s services.    

And in a turning point for the way local government is funded, the outdated system that saw some councils build up savings while others faced financial collapse has been replaced.  

Instead, places are now being funded using an evidence-based system that properly recognises local circumstances and the true costs of providing services in deprived communities.     

Labour Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed said: “This is a turning point, a chance to turn the page on a decade of cuts and callousness, and for local leaders to invest in getting back what has been lost – to bring back libraries, youth services, clean streets, and community hubs.  

“For too long, deprived communities were left behind. Today we’re ending the postcode lottery so everyone can access the services their community deserves.”  

Grahame Morris MP said: “After 14 years of Tory austerity, Labour is putting money back into our local services.  

“This £170 million cash injection for our area will make a real difference to people’s everyday lives by boosting the services we all rely on. It means more money for our high streets, our libraries, our roads and for cleaner streets.  

“The Labour Government is reversing Tory decline and investing in Britain’s renewal.”