'Spiteful class war': Badenoch accuses Burnham of cutting almost £500m from rival councils while Labour councils gain £1.6bn

Kemi Badenoch labelled the funding shift 'financial gerrymandering' and cautioned that ordinary people will face higher council tax as a result. Funding for Conservative-run councils will fall from £4.4bn to £4.1bn by 2028/29. Tory-held Wandsworth stands to lose £84m. Labour-run Birmingham, which effectively declared bankruptcy in 2023, will receive the largest increase of any council.

Buckinghamshire leader Steven Broadbent: Burnham wants growth 'just not' where he lacks control.

Kensington and Chelsea's Elizabeth Campbell warned the cuts threaten 'our very existence as a council'.

Labour claims the money is being rebalanced towards areas with higher deprivation.