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Exceptional Financial Support: Transformation Funding
15 September 2026
Lead MP
Jim McMahon
Oldham West and Royton
Labour (Co-op)
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Local Government
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Jim McMahon raised concerns about exceptional financial support: transformation funding in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The Labour Party is highlighting the challenges faced by councils due to a decade and a half of austerity and over-centralisation, with many struggling to manage financial pressures. The government has taken steps to address this by delivering a fairer and simpler approach to allocating funding, including Exceptional Financial Support of £1.5bn for 37 areas to enable them to set a balanced budget. Additionally, the government is providing £91m of targeted funding to support councils in the most challenging financial positions to invest in prevention and modern, effective services. The government is also working to support and challenge councils in a range of ways, tailored to their circumstances, and is taking appropriate action under the Best Value framework where necessary.
Jim McMahon
Lab
Oldham West and Royton
The Labour Party acknowledges the government's steps to address local government financial issues, including a fairer funding settlement and Exceptional Financial Support for 37 areas. However, they emphasise the need for a more sustainable approach focusing on long-term prevention rather than short-term fixes. They also highlight the importance of effective support and expertise across government to help councils move towards more sustainable service delivery models. They cite examples such as Stoke-on-Trent's Families First Partnership Programme as positive initiatives that can reduce long-term pressure on local authority budgets.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.