Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, responding to the reorganisation of Northamptonshire County Council, said:

“Austerity is so savage that the Government has been forced to effectively abolish one of their own Tory councils.

“A perfect storm of Tory mismanagement and austerity drove Northamptonshire into ruin and now local people are paying the price.

“After declaring bankruptcy twice in six months, the council pushed council tax above normal limits, cut jobs and services, and sold off land and buildings for less than their worth to pay off spiralling debts.

“Today’s announcement appears to be nothing more than a £43 million attempt by the Government to cover up this mess.”