Edward Davey MP Demands Fair Deal for Kingston

10.26.35am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 22nd Feb 2007

On Friday, local MP Edward Davey, is taking his campaign- a Fair Deal for Kingston - to Parliament. Edward is hoping that many Kingston residents will join the rally he is holding along with Kingston Council, outside of Parliament from 12 o'clock until 2pm. Following the rally, Edward will demand that the Government reconsider the grant formula that produces such an unfair Grant Settlement for Kingston, during a special parliamentary debate in the House of Commons.

Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, was appalled that central government has cut Kingston's grant this year. So much so that Kingston Council has been forced to look at potential services to cut and plans to cut up to £20 million from the budget, yet still the hard-pressed council taxpayer will have to fork out 68% for council services. This year's cuts have added to the fundamental unfairness in the central grant settlement to Kingston, which has led to Edward Davey applying for a special parliamentary debate in the House of Commons. Before the debate, Edward will join a rally of Kingston Residents outside of parliament, at Winston Churchill's statue, from 12 o'clock until 2pm demanding a fair deal for Kingston from the Government.

Commenting on taking his campaign for a fair deal for Kingston to Parliament, Edward Davey MP said,

"Successive governments have penalised Kingston yet it is Tony Blair that has put the final squeeze that has pushed the Royal Borough of Kingston over the edge. The Government has forced Kingston Council to consider £20 million cuts!

"If Kingston received the same grant per head as Hammersmith and Fulham, we could keep our existing spending, but cut our council tax by 80%!

"I hope that many Kingston residents will join me at the rally on Friday to demand that the Government gives a fair deal to Kingston!"