Stafford MP and new council leader clash over flood protection
An MP has questioned Staffordshire County Council's commitment to flood protection after its new administration announced a shake-up of cabinet posts.
Leigh Ingham, Labour MP for Stafford, feared the new Reform UK administration would embark on a programme of 'ideological cuts' after taking control in last month's council elections.
Miss Ingham said she hoped the authority would not follow Reform-led Lincolnshire County Council by voting to abolish important protections for communities at risk of flooding.
She voiced concerns that the new administration did not have a designated cabinet member for the environment responsible for flood defences and environmental protection.
However Staffordshire’s new leader, Councillor Ian Cooper, said these responsibilities would be taken on by the new cabinet member for connectivity, and no posts had been removed.
He accused the MP of peddling 'fake news and misinformation'.
Miss Ingham said people in Staffordshire had seen first-hand the damage that flooding could cause to homes, businesses, the environment.
“Reform UK are now in control of Staffordshire County Council, and we’re already seeing the signs of the same ideological cuts," she said.
"The council’s new leader, Councillor Ian Cooper, has said ‘If a service doesn’t directly support our elderly or care for our children, we need to reconsider its necessity.’
“Well, flood defences do help people. They protect homes and businesses, reduce insurance costs and save the public purse millions in clean-up and emergency response. "Reform UK’s approach isn’t just anti-environment - it’s anti-commonsense.”
Councillor Cooper accused responded by accusing Miss Ingham of trying to make political capital.
"Fake news and misinformation from an MP who is desperate to appear relevant, knowing she is likely to lose her seat at the next General Election," he said.
"We haven't abolished any cabinet positions, it has been renamed 'connectivity' which we believe reflects a wider range of issues across Staffordshire, from road, rail, waterways, canals and broadband.
"It still has all the powers and responsibility as previously.
"I can't speak for Lincolnshire, but they are probably undertaking a similar internal process."
Miss Ingham expressed concern that weakening flood-risk planning could push up insurance premiums, particularly in flood-prone communities where council mitigation efforts were an important part of insurers’ risk assessments.
"This is what happens when ideology takes precedence over evidence. Reform UK say they’re on the side of ordinary people but how is abandoning flood defences, potentially raising insurance costs and increasing the risk to people’s homes in any way helpful?
“We can’t allow this short-sighted, dangerous agenda to take root here in Staffordshire."
