THE government would like to see local government ‘dead in a ditch,’ the leader of the county council’s Labour group has claimed.

Liz Brighouse made the comment – using a remark the prime minister used about Brexit last week – as all councillors agreed they are ‘concerned’ the council might need to ‘make further cuts in staff and services for the most vulnerable people.’

Last week, councils were given extra money as part of chancellor Sajid Javid’s spending review.

Mrs Brighouse said extra short-term funding was a ‘sweetener’ for authorities.

Richard Webber, the Liberal Democrats’ group leader, said the country is in ‘total and complete and utter meltdown’ following cuts.

READ MORE: Councils to get £1.5bn extra for social care next year – Javid

Laura Price, another Labour councillor, said an extra £1.8bn is welcome but is not enough to cover up £16bn lost over recent years.

But Ian Hudspeth, the council’s leader, said he was irritated that Labour’s parliamentary party had ‘bottled’ a possible general election last week.

Mr Hudspeth mentioned the note left by former cabinet minister, Liam Byrne, after Labour lost the 2010 general election that claimed there was ‘no money left’.

But he will now write to Mr Javid and Boris Johnson to highlight the council’s ‘deep concern’ about ‘further cuts’.