A LACK of new funding for social care services will leave Bury residents facing poorer living standards, the leader of Bury Council has said.

Cllr Rishi Shori hit out at the Government's recent Autumn Statement during a speech at last week's council meeting.

He said that austerity has meant "six long, wasted years" and that no new funding for the social care system would have a severe impact on local authorities.

Cllr Shori said: "The most shocking thing from a Local Government Perspective was the failure to allow for any further funding to the Social Care System – a social care system in crisis.

"Tonight, the length and breadth of this country there will be elderly, frail and lonely people who will remain trapped in their homes or trapped in hospitals, isolated, and lacking the care they deserve because of continuing cuts to social care budgets."

Cllr Shori went on to say that the borough is showing "an astounding level of resilience" and cited the announcement that Lidl is coming to Radcliffe as a potential catalyst for further regeneration.

He added: "For the people of Bury this means that they are left facing lower living standards, lower wage growth, higher inflation.

"Real wages will, remarkably, still be below their 2008 levels by the time we reach 2021. This means that the Tories have delivered more than a decade without real earnings growth.

"And yet despite all this, here in Bury we are showing an astounding level of resilience and will continue to work as hard as we can to protect the most vulnerable in our communities whilst at the same time trying to make all parts of our borough more prosperous."

Conservative group leader, Cllr Iain Gartside, later defended the government's record on the economy.

Prime Minister Theresa May said in November: "I recognise the concerns and challenges around social care. By the end of this parliament, the local authorities will have £3.5bn more to spend on social care and of course we're putting more money into the health service as well.

"But we need to see the health service and social care working together - that's why the health secretary and the local communities secretary are apprised of the need for the challenges faced and are looking at this issue."