Fury as Labour warned cuts will leave bins piling up

Fury as Labour warned cuts will leave bins piling up Councils across England warned that Government funding cuts could risk streets not been cleaned. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Holly Kintuka , Audience Writer 12:15, Sun, Oct 18, 2026 Updated: 12:17, Sun, Oct 18, 2026 Councils across the UK could funding cuts worth millions of pounds (Image: Getty) Labour cuts will leave UK roads overflowing with rubbish, councillors have warned. It comes as the Government has been accused of slashing funding from wealthier councils to Labour-run ones. According to analysis carried out by The Telegraph , Tory and Liberal-Democrat-dominated councils in England will suffer from a £487m cut in government grants and funding over the course of this parliament, while Labour councils are expected to benefit from a £1.6bn boost. Authorities across the country have warned that basic services such as bin collection and street sweeping could be cut back , particularly in London, due to the staggering cuts. Paul Fisher, Tory leader of Westminster council, told The Telegraph: "There's a risk of streets not being cleaned. In some areas you might have three bin collections a week, and you might want to reduce that to one potentially." Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT According to the council leader, Westminster residents contribute £8.8bn to the Treasury every year, including £2.7bn in business rates. However, the council will see its funding cut by £100m in the coming years. Mr Fisher slammed it as "unacceptable", arguing that the Government is asking council taxpayers to "subsidise the work of keeping our capital clean for everyone". Over in Richmond, Lib Dem leader Gareth Roberts said he's "being focred into making potentially unpopular choices" due to the changes. The council is expected to lose out on £104m worth of funding in the next four years. He believes the Government is forcing councils into bankruptcy. Get the day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Horror tiger attack details as witness reveals object victim grabbed before mauling | UK | News | Express.co.uk Yorkshire Wildlife Park issues major new update on fate of tiger after man mauled to death Leader of Westminster council said there's a risk of streets not being cleaned due to the cuts (Image: Getty) Concerns are rising across a multitude of councils, with leaders worried about how the cuts will affect the vital services. Jeff Brooks, Lib Dem leader of West Berkshire council, says that shortfalls will risk the area "looking run-down". Leaders are being forced to make changes to ensure that services are protected while having limited finances. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Jonathan Brook, Lib Dem leader of Westmorland and Furness council, said: "We are already taking steps to make savings in our waste service to protect this as a vital front-line service." Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT He added: "Waste collection is one of the key services that residents use to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of council services in general, as it is a highly visible service and has a direct impact on every resident, so changes have to be very carefully managed." A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said: "We're fixing an outdated funding system so funding goes where need is greatest. As a result, nine in 10 councils will receive funding that broadly matches their need so they can deliver the high-quality public services local people need. "This is alongside making over £78bn available for council finances this year, with the majority of money unringfenced, so local leaders can decide for themselves how best to spend on their priorities." Bin collection Labour Party Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments