The government’s Recovery Grant will mean fairer funding levels for councils hit hardest by Tory cuts, like ours. Gone are the days of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bragging at garden parties about shovelling money from deprived areas into Tory shires. It is an important measure, which directs money towards real deprivation and need.

Unfortunately, the way this scheme is being delivered still leaves local authorities facing serious shortfalls. The £35 million cap to this scheme effectively prevents councils from claiming the full amount of support. Lambeth is facing a 15.5% fall in core spending power over the next three years. This is the steepest in London and one of the largest reductions in the country as a whole. If we are truly going to put the era of Tory austerity behind us, we need a review of this cap to ensure councils can actually meet local need.