“Northamptonshire Conservatives are making our streets more dangerous and attacking the vulnerable” Cllr Chris Stanbra

Northamptonshire Conservatives are making the wrong decisions, slashing community safety and crucial support for the vulnerable, whilst wasting millions on bureaucracy, according the Official Opposition Liberal Democrats at County Hall.

Lib Dem Finance Spokesman, Cllr Chris Stanbra said "The Conservatives are making the wrong choices and are making our streets more dangerous and ripping up the safety net in Northamptonshire. They have a choice here locally - but refused to listen to alternative suggestions from the Liberal Democrats to cut wasteful back office spending to save frontline services."

"Over the last few years the Conservatives locally have plunged our county in to darkness by switching off the streetlights and cut money for PCSOs. They've slashed money to prevent deaths on our roads and fires. They've slashed £19m out of prevention budgets supporting the voluntary sector, childrens' centres, people with mental health issues and many other community groups and vulnerable people. They've hiked up charges for social care and elderly services while slashing budgets for crucial support."

"What is really sad about all this is that they did have a choice. They could have cut Councillors allowances for the Cabinet, they could have cut back office bureaucracy much further than they have and they could have cut money for marketing and communications. Worse still, since 2011 they have now decided to spend £6m on a Quango with an office in Brussels. Half of that - £3m - has gone to fund the back office, and almost £1m has gone on their Brussels office."

"The Conservatives in Northamptonshire are making the wrong choices and vulnerable people in our county are paying the price. The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight to make sure the voices of the people Conservatives don't care about are heard."