PM challenged over slow council funding

摘要

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to deny the Government has been slow to act on council funding during a Parliamentary clash with Labour leader Keir Starmer. Sir Keir demanded to know if the Prime Minister felt the Government had 'kept its promise', made by communities secretary Robert Jenrick, to support councils through the crisis. The Labour leader quoted Mr Jenrick's assertion in March that 'the Government stands ready to do whatever is necessary to support councils in their response to coronavirus'. He went on to quote the Local Government Association estimates there is a £10bn funding shortfall. He added: 'These are the Prime Minister's own council leaders. He must have known about this problem for months. Why has he been so slow to act?'