Council leaders in England and Wales have called for greater fiscal freedoms following the government’s pledge to devolve more powers to Scotland.
This week, the Government promised to give Scotland more autonomy on tax, spending and welfare in the event of a ‘no’ vote for independence.
However, the Local Government Association (LGA) said these freedoms should not be an ‘exclusive privilege’ for one country but should be extended to council across the country.
Chair of the LGA, Cllr David Sparks, said: ‘New powers being offered to Scotland in the event of a ‘no' vote must be given to every local area in England and Wales. The appetite for devolution does not stop at the border and the rest of the UK will not be content to settle for the status quo.
‘Local areas across the country need to be set free from the grip of Whitehall and allowed to raise and spend money in a way which will best serve the people who live there, from equipping them with the skills for work to being able build the homes people need.’
Chancellor, George Osborne, said the freedoms promised to Scotland would include greater fiscal autonomy, more control over taxes, and more power over welfare rates.
