The pen is mightier than the sword *.

* The saying, “The pen is mightier than the sword” was first written by novelist and playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839, in his historical play Cardinal Richelieu.

That saying is certainly true in relation to CaMORON. 

When what you think is written down, it is harder to dismiss it or forget about it, as CaMORON is so fond of doing (Tax credit cuts anyone!)

So, here is the letter that started the whole thing off, “the thing” being that CaMORON is so out of touch with reality and unaware (or doesn’t care ) about the effect the cuts his government have made/are making, even in his own constituency.

… and the Oxford council leaders response … (it runs to 6 pages so I’ve placed a link)

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/resources/files/35654

It seems other council leaders have decided to write to Mr CaMORON about the very self same thing …

This one from Crawley Council;

Peter Lamb ‏@CllrPetesTweets 3h3 hours ago

1. My letter to the PM in the wake of his discovery that cutting councils’ income might mean you lose local services. pic.twitter.com/DvkzbubMCE

   … and this one from Newcastle Council;

   The Rt Hon David Cameron MP

   Prime Minister

   10 Downing Street

   London S

   W1A 2AA

   Newcastle City Council Budget Settlement

   Dear Prime Minister

   I am writing to you to raise a number of serious concerns, following a resolution agreed recently by Newcastle City Council. As you will be aware, the average cut for local government over the 4 year period of the current Comprehensive Spending Review period was announced as 28% in real terms – very much higher than many other Government departments. However, the 28% cut has not been applied equally to all councils. Because of alterations to the funding formula made by the Department for Communities and Local Government, some councils have faced even bigger cuts in the Revenue Grants than they receive. The cut in grants and spending power in Newcastle at the mid point in the spending review has been around £143 per person compared with an average of £74 per person in the country as a whole, and we expect that difference to increase further over the next two years. This is also reflected in a higher percentage cut in our spending power with a 12.6% cut in Newcastle compared with a 6.8% cut for England. Initial estimates for the grant in 2013/14 indicate that our cash reduction will increase further and the gap will widen. Newcastle’s larger spending power grant cut reflects the decision to cut all of the Working Neighbourhood Fund and significantly reducing the Early Intervention Grant and a number of other funding streams. This led directly to a further £10m cut for Newcastle. It also reflects the decisions to make deep cuts in formula grant funding allocated to Children’s Social Care, concessionary travel and the cut in resource equalisation. As a result, Newcastle has suffered far worse than many local authorities in the local government financial settlements since 2010. We have calculated the ‘fairness gap’ and, if Newcastle’s cut had been in line with the national average, the Council would have £20m extra to spend in the current financial year and a further £22m in the next financial year alone.

   Oh dear “Call me Dave” it’s not looking good is it?

   This incident reminds me of an old East European saying …

   “Never try and teach a pig to sing, it annoys the pig and wastes your time”  Or as they say round my way … “You can’t educate pork” 

   

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