MP votes against ‘insulting’ police funding settlement

This afternoon in the House of Commons, South Lakes MP Tim Farron voted against the Government's police funding settlement describing it as an insult to officers in Cumbria.

The supposed increase in funding is only in line with inflation and will come from increases in local taxes.

This month it was revealed that cuts to police numbers were leading to a private security firm in the South Lakes having to use handcuffs on violent suspects because of an increase in police response times.

Tim said: "With our local police officers stretched to the utter limit, it's frankly insulting that the Government have the bare faced cheek to introduce a new funding settlement which doesn't actually give our police more money.

"It's also shameful that local people are being forced to cough up the cash for the heavy cuts that the Conservatives have inflicted on the police - we deserve better."