Surrey councillors have called for the county to be offered a £1billion-plus ‘sweetheart deal’ to match the sum Theresa May’s Conservative government granted to the DUP to form a majority.

The Tories yesterday agreed nearly £1billion worth of funding for infrastructure projects, ultrafast broadband and health and education spending in Northern Ireland to shore up support from Arlene Foster’s party.

From yesterday: Government’s ‘shabby’ deal with DUP branded a threat to Good Friday Agreement

The deal tips the Commons in the Conservatives’ favour after this month’s general election left them with the most seats, but not enough to form a majority government.

Mole Valley District Councillor Paul Kennedy, a Liberal Democrat, has since called for the equivalent sum for Surrey - £100million for each of the county’s MPs – to ease the county’s financial “crisis”.

And he was joined by Epsom and Ewell’s Residents’ Association councillor Clive Woodbridge, who tweeted: “Can Surrey MPs negotiate a confidence and supply agreement to give us a £1.5 billion extra? Our infrastructure needs it too!”

 


 

Cllr Kennedy added: “Surrey residents are counting the cost of electing Conservative MPs who are prepared to back a damaging hard Brexit and swingeing cuts to public services in areas like Mole Valley, while giving away taxpayers’ money as part of a deal with the sectarian Democratic Unionist Party.

“Surrey’s Conservative MPs should be demanding equivalent compensation for the people of Surrey. By backing Theresa May’s Hard Brexit DUP Government, they are selling us all short.”

From March: Surrey County Council plans to cut millions of pounds from frontline services in face of Conservative austerity

From March: Surrey County Council leader held talks with Government over 'gentleman's agreement' to scrap 15 per cent tax rise

The government has cut Surrey County Council’s annual grant by £170million since 2010, while demand for adult social care, learning disabilities and children’s services is increasing.

From February: Surrey County Council leader U-turns on plans for 15 per cent tax increase minutes before vote

In February, the cash-strapped, Tory-led council bowed to public fury and scrapped plans to raise council tax by 15 per cent in an effort to fund services. Council leader David Hodge was accused of pushing for a “sweetheart deal” for extra funding with the government – a claim the council strenuously denied.

Surrey County Council has announced it needs to make about £100million worth of cuts this year.

Speaking after talks in Number 10 with DUP leader Arlene Foster yesterday, Prime Minister Theresa May said the two parties “share many values” and the agreement was “a very good one”.

She added that the agreement would “enable us to work together in the interests of the whole United Kingdom, give us the certainty we require as we embark on our departure from the European Union, and help us build a stronger and fairer society at home.”

Conservative MPs for Epsom and Ewell, Reigate and Mole Valley – Chris Grayling, Crispin Blunt and Sir Paul Beresford, respectively – and Surrey County Council have been contacted for comment.

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