Local Government Finance Bill

Unfortunately I cannot, as I have very little time left. Let us not be conned by the Secretary of State's strategy. In the name of localism, he is pushing decisions down to local government, but cutting grants at the same time. He will then try to say to local people, ““It's nothing to do with me, guv. It's your local council that is doing this.”” That strategy was used by the Conservatives in Canada in the 1990s, and it is clear that this Government have learned from that play book and want to ensure that local people do not blame them but instead blame their local council, which will have been hamstrung by the grant cuts. It is about time that people saw through this bluster from the Secretary of State.