Labour-run Hammersmith and Fulham Council have approved big cuts in the grants for voluntary groups in the borough.
The funding for 2014/15, which was set by the Conservatives was £3,598,709. For 2015/16 Labour will be spending £3,623,423. So that is a small cash increase but a cut in “real terms” after allowing for inflation. Let us call it a freeze. But then in 2016/17 Labour plan to cut the spending to £3,402,438. In 2017/18 they have decided on a further cut to £3,204,784.
Nobody should be surprised that Labour’s slashing funding to community groups by £400,000 - it’s what they did last time they ran the council when Andrew Slaughter was the council leader.
What adds insult to injury is that Labour’s using council resources to make the false claim that are increasing funding by £400,000.
Does the Labour Party seriously imagine that the voluntary sector won’t notice the difference?
Greg Hands MP said "I was shocked to learn of Labour's proposed huge cut in funding to local voluntary organisations and I will be taking the matter up with Charities Minister, Brooks Newmark, in the coming days. Local organisations affected should get in touch with me."