LABOUR leader of Wirral Council Cllr Phil Davies writes a a personal column for the Globe in which he blasts the Conservative opposition for abandoning the needs of local people in favour of supporting the shambolic Government of Theresa May.

IN case you missed it, this Tory Government has sent a clear message to Wirral residents since the General Election: “Don’t expect us to help - you are on your own”.

Every opportunity to support, fund or invest in Wirral has been declined, ignored or rejected - and now investments and funding for vital services like the NHS, elderly care, police and education are being reduced and eroded.

While it’s clear the Tories in Westminster don’t care about Wirral, even more is disappointing is to see local Conservatives putting political dogma and party loyalty before the needs of local people.

Not so long ago, opposition parties recognised some issues transcended party lines.

They supported myself and Labour colleagues on Wirral Council to lobby the Government - whether it was Tory, LibDem/Tory Coalition or Labour - for the best possible deal for Wirral.

We campaigned to prevent fracking and gas drilling in The Dee, to protect our local schools and to have adequate funding to carry out the repairs to roads and street lamps every resident expects to see.

Sadly those days are a distant memory.

Today’s Tory Party on Wirral is more interested in supporting the shambolic Government of Theresa May than standing up for Wirral residents.

The recent explosion in New Ferry is a case to prove the point.

Rather than joining with colleagues from other political parties on Wirral Council to demand the Government plays - and pays - its part in funding the recovery efforts, new Tory group leader Cllr Ian Lewis chose to back the minister who wrote to residents and councillors to say “don’t expect us to help”.

When the Government moved so swiftly to set up disaster funds for the residents of the tragedy in Kensington, Wirral residents are right to wonder why some level of assistance and support couldn’t have been forthcoming for our community struggling to rebuild too.

But it’s not just families and businesses in New Ferry who are feeling abandoned by the Tories.

Residents across Wirral share our dismay that cuts to Merseyside Police’s budget has seen the reassuring presence of bobbies on our streets decimated and a lack of officers means some emergency 999 calls go unanswered.

Other important services are also under attack.

Only lobbying and good old-fashioned campaigning by Labour councillors secured the decision by local NHS managers to revisit the flawed decision to close the Eastham NHS walk-in centre.

And now, as Tory ministers prepare to announce more cuts to local services in their austerity budget, only Labour will be campaigning for fair funding for Wirral so the quality of life we all value can be maintained.

Tory funding proposals for local Government mean not only has Wirral lost £250 million in cuts since 2010, in 2020 the Government will cease to fund local council services altogether.

If you are a parent, a pensioner or a young adult looking to local services for help with care, training or keeping your community safe and secure and clean, the Tories’ message “You are on your own” offers little comfort.