I READ with interest the latest on the council tax and budget row in Warrington.

I find it staggering that we, the taxpayers, are left paying an extra five per cent while the council has such an enormous debt.

I find it even more staggering that the town’s Tories seem to be so deluded that they simply blame the council for this rather than looking at the actions of their own Government.

Central Government has cut millions every year from this local authority, an all others across the country.

It has also passed the buck and asked for more and more to be done locally, at the same time doing nothing to cut and tackle the waste in Whitehall.

A report this week says as many as half councils could go bankrupt in the next five years, so does it mean all these councils are now bring run appallingly?

There are as many Labour as Conservative authorities staring down the barrel.

Or could there be another common denominator?

Could it be that the Government has rinsed local authorities, while at the same time scattering money away to its friends and supports?

Think PPE and the Baroness.

Warrington Borough Council has made plenty of risky investments – some have failed, some are earning them money.

What do Warrington’s Conservatives think about the role the central Government has played in all this.

I suspect nothing they will be willing to say publicly.

BEN GRANGE

Latchford