Local authorities across the country are slashing public services to meet the spending restrictions imposed by central government. But whenever Conservative-Liberal Democrat government ministers are challenged about such cuts, they say such decisions are taken not by central government but by councils. And Labour-controlled councils are having to implement harsher cuts than Tory and Lib Dem authorities.
Hugh Muir joins this week's protests against local government spending cuts in Camden, north London.
Northern editor Martin Wainwright reveals the level of opposition in the north of the country.
The Guardian's London blogger Dave Hill joins us after the strangely muted protests in Hackney, Eeast London.
SocietyGuardian's Peter Hetherington talks about Labour's lack of coherent opposition to the cuts so far.
Communities minister Andrew Stunell tells us that backroom inefficiencies and innovative budget management can absorb the brunt of the cuts.
The New Local Government Network's Tom Symons believes that savings in support services cannot be great enough to stop front-line services being cut.
