Labour cannot commit to giving local councils more cash despite more than a decade of town halls being under-funded, a party frontbencher has said.
Sarah Owen, who is the shadow minister for local government, told Labour councillors at the party's conference in Liverpool today (October 9) that they have to be 'realistic' about funding.
It comes as councils across the country are facing huge cost pressures with an estimated funding gap of almost £3bn over the next two years.
In Manchester, the financial shortfall is forecast to reach £108m in three years' time. Manchester council leader Bev Craig, who was speaking at the same fringe event at the Labour Party conference, said that conversations about funding with her party have been 'encouraging'.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk