Council's deputy leader claims that MPs 'failing us'

THE deputy leader of Northumberland County Council has called on Northumberland MPs to “rattle cages” in Westminster amid questions over funding for major projects.

- JAMES ROBINSON Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

Conservative councillor Richard Wearmouth said the four Labour MPs elected last year were “failing” the county.

It comes as the Government refuses to commit to funding the rebuild of Berwick Academy, or improvements on two key roundabouts on the A19.

Speaking at this week's meeting of the council's cabinet, Coun Wearmouth also referenced the scrapped project to dual 13 miles of the Al in the county.

MPs have hit back at the deputy leader’s comments, with one accusing the Tories of also ‘failing’ the county and branding his attack as “sniping”.

Referencing the Government's failure to provide sufficient funding for a food waste collection service, Coun Wearmouth said: “Unfortunately there is a pattern emerging here. Our MPs are failing us. We have four Labour MPs in this county, but the problem happens across every bit of the North East.