Hundreds demonstrate over Wirral council cuts plans

Dec 18 2012 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Echo

“If they attack, we are going to fight back."

Labour council leader Phil Davies thanked Mr Quinn for his "passionate" speech and insisted his group is opposed to the Government's austerity programme, but said: "I do not believe the way forward is to refuse to set a legal budget.

"I believe the really responsible thing to do is to try as far as we can to protect jobs, frontline services and the most vulnerable."

Cllr Davies’ proposal to add Mr Quinn's comments to the council's ongoing consultation, What Really Matters, was supported by Lib Dem leader Tom Harney and Tory leader Jeff Green, who also praised the council leader for "standing up to the dangerous suggestion".

In a subsequent debate on the budget proposals, Cllr Green accused Labour of lacking a “coherent strategy” in implementing the cuts and “hiding behind the chief executive” Graham Burgess, who presented the budget options.

But Cllr Davies dismissed the claims, saying the cuts were the result of Coalition government reducing grants to local government and the previous Tory-led administration in Wirral which “left the council in a shambles”.

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