Questions have been asked in Westminster about Cornwall Council’s financial challenges and its need to cut hundreds of jobs – by an MP from Cheshire.

Mike Amesbury, Labour MP for Weaver Vale and shadow minister for local government, posed a question to the Secretary of State asking whether the department had held discussions with Cornwall Council about its financial challenges and reduction in services and staff.

Under the council’s budget plans for 2022/23 it is looking to make cuts of around £55million and remove more than 400 jobs.

In response the Government said that increased funding for councils meant that Cornwall Council’s spending power had increased and said that it was up to local authorities to make decisions about services.

Whilst it might seem unusual that an MP from the North West should be asking questions about Cornwall, Mr Amesbury said he did so after being approached by unions in his position as shadow minister.

“First and foremost they were talking about the pressure on local jobs and services and as shadow minister I was happy to take this on.

“The Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor, since 2019, have said that austerity is over but this demonstrates what the reality is on the ground.

“In terms of the budget pressures Cornwall Council is planning cuts of £55m and there are real consequences on the ground. That reality needs to be exposed.”

Mr Amesbury said that he would continue to follow what is happening in Cornwall and help Labour colleagues to highlight the issues.

Jayne Kirkham, leader of the Labour group at Cornwall Council, said that she and colleagues were having to seek the help of Labour MPs as she felt that Cornwall’s Conservative MPs are not standing up for Cornwall.

“It seems very obvious that Cornwall stands out like a sore thumb because of the scathing cuts that are coming in the next year. They are hitting our care services, they are hitting adult social care, children’s services – we are losing key people from those services.

“It is going to be very difficult to keep people safe and services going with the cuts which are planned.”

Cllr Kirkham said that she was disappointed with the “awful” response from the Government to Mr Amesbury’s question.

She said: “They really have no concept of what life is like here in Cornwall. Our six Tory MPs and Tory council should be doing this and shouting up for Cornwall. That is why we are having to ask MPs like Mike Amesbury and Luke Pollard to push on issues like this and affordable homes as we need people to speak up for us. We are not currently getting that from our elected representatives in Cornwall.”