Three-quarters of former ‘red wall’ seats believe councils need extra funding and powers to deal with the climate emergency, a new survey has revealed.
The research, published for the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, shows there is also widespread disapproval in former red wall seats about how the Government has responses to climate change so far.
Three out of four respondents in the North and Midlands thought the ‘UK could have been better prepared for the recent floods’ while 84% believe extra investment is needed by the Government to tackle climate change.
Chief Executive of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, Neil McInroy, said: ‘The Government should take note that the public want their local authorities to take a more active role in this process.
‘Rather than handicapping localities with ongoing austerity and reduced powers, national government must work with metro mayors and local authority leaders to ensure that localities have the fair financial and devolution settlement they need to achieve this.’
