SIGOMA Chair urges the Government to "deliver support on immediate problems"

Posted on May 09, 2025

Quote from The Times:

“Big capital expenditure takes time to have a political effect, but the government simply doesn’t have that time. Delivering support on immediate problems — such as the cost of living crisis, supporting councils in the most deprived areas and rethinking policies like the benefit changes and cuts to the winter fuel allowance — is pivotal if Labour want to hold off Reform and get a second term. It’s now or never for the government to make these changes.”

Our Chair also spoke to The i:

'Labour leader of Barnsley Council and Chair of the SIGOMA group of largely northern and Midlands local authorities, Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton, urged the Prime Minister to “rethink” the winter fuel cut.

He said: “Despite the good work on the NHS, including consistently reducing waiting times, and the Prime Minister’s leading work on supporting Ukraine, last Thursday’s results are a worrying sign for the Labour Party.

“These results show that the outcome of next year’s local elections will be even worse if things don’t change and the government doesn’t do more to help councils and communities in need."'

Our Chair was also quoted in Labour List, the Yorkshire Post, The Sheffield Star and The Local Government Chronicle.