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Politics Weekly UK

Why are councils going bankrupt? – Politics Weekly UK

Politics Weekly UK

The Guardian

News, Politics

4.01.4K Ratings

🗓️ 25 January 2024

⏱️ 37 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The government has an announced an extra £500million to help local councils in England. After years of squeezed budgets, many are facing bankruptcy. What can be done to prevent more from tipping over? The Guardian’s John Harris hears from Bill Revans, the leader of Somerset council, the Guardian’s social policy editor, Patrick Butler, and the Labour candidate for Peckham, Miatta Fahnbulleh. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is the Guardian.

0:10.0

Hello, remember me? I'm that holiday you never took. I was meant to be filled with fun,

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laughter, relaxation. Instead, you worked. According to a recent poll, 50% of you don't take your full annual leave.

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Taking a break is good for you.

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A break with British Airways holidays is even better.

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Relax, rejuvenate and switch off. Take your holiday as

0:36.2

seriously as British Airways holidays take your holiday,

0:39.2

at all protected. Hello there is Jamie East here from the

0:42.0

excellent daily news podcast the Smart 7.

0:44.7

We're currently brought to you by Metal, that's the mobile-based bank account built for the self-employed.

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Metal which is backed by NatWest makes it easy for small business owners like

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myself to manage their money on the go. You can stay on top of your finances with

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1:13.0

And don't forget, check out the Smart7,

1:15.0

wherever you get your podcasts. All over England, the councils that provide vital public services are in a deep financial

1:27.6

crisis with more and more places facing bankruptcy. Nottingham City Council is short of 23 million pounds.

1:36.7

Birmingham says it doesn't have the money it needs to balance its budget.

1:40.0

Woking Borough Council is sitting on a debt portfolio of 1.8 billion pound.

1:46.7

The Council is bankrupt.

1:49.2

For all the Tory talk and levelling up, the government still doesn't seem to grasp the seriousness of what's happening.

...

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