'Same old Labour!' Birmingham City Council leader slammed for going 'on HOLIDAY' when council went bust
Keir Starmer's handpicked leader of Birmingham City Council is under fire for going on holiday when the council went bust
The leader of Birmingham City Council has been criticised for going on holiday while his council fell into financial ruin.
Yesterday, the council declared bankcruptcy, but Cllr John Cotton, the leader of the council, was forced to join interviews via zoom from New York as the situation unfolded.
John Cotton, who was handpicked for the role by the Labour leader, is thought to be in New York celebrating his 50th birthday.
Gary Sambrook, Conservative MP for Birmingham Northfield, hit out at Cotton for being "nowehere to be seen", warning that Labour will brancrupt the country if they get into power.
John Cotton was thought to be in New York celebrating his birthday this week
birmingham.gov.uk
He told GB News: "If anyone wants to see how Labour would behave in Government then look no further than Birmingham.
"Starmer's man was picked without a vote and when things get tough is nowhere to be seen.
"Labour have bankrupted Birmingham and they'll do the same to the country."
The council effectively declared bankruptcy yesterday after being hit with a £760 million bill to settle equal pay claims.
It issued a section 114 notice, confirming that all new spending, aside from that used to to protect vulnerable people and statutory services, will stop immediately.
Local Tory sources told the Mail Online that Cotton was in New York at the time, celebrating his 50th birthday.
The council's Deputy Leader, Sharon Thompson told councillors at a meeting yesterdat that the notice was a "necessary step as we seek to get our city back on sound financial footing".
She added: "I want to stress that despite the significant challenges that we face, we will prioritise core services that our residents rely on in line with our values of supporting the most vulnerable in this city."
But Craig Tracey, the MP for North Warwickshire, described the situation as "staggering".
He said: "Labour have failed to deal with the equal pay issue for ten years now.
"Combine that with their bungled IT system which is set to cost five times more than first estimated and you have a catalogue of mismanagement that has left the council effectively bankrupt.
"It’s staggering that it had to come to this before the Council Leader started to talk about the need to make 'tough decisions'."
Greg Hands said: 'The truth is where Labour run something they run it badly and expect residents to pay for it.'
PA
Meanwhile, Conservative Party Chairman Greg Hands, said: "The truth is where Labour run something they run it badly and expect residents to pay for it.
"Labour’s Birmingham Council made the choice to put itself into a perilous financial position.
"This is the same old Labour – taking the easy way out by spending and borrowing billions, leaving the taxpayer to foot the bill."