THE MP for Droitwich Spa has signed and voted in favour of a major opposition motion attacking the Government's record on community services.

Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff is backing the Tory statement which says community services have collapsed in Britain, impacting social inclusion, neighbourhood renewal, regional prosperity and quality of life.

It condemns policies from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which Tories claim have resulted in unfair distribution of local authority grants and caused divisive regional disparities and centralised decision-making.

The motion also: "Deplores the absence of policies to protect rural communities from the effects of the deep recession in farming; and recognises the Government's total failure to protect community services, resulting in a crisis in school funding, an increase in violent crime, a deteriorating transport system, and a threat to important local services including community pharmacies, sub-post offices and residential care homes."

Mr Luff told the Advertiser: "The scale of the government's failure on community services in Worcestershire is truly breathtaking.

"About the only thing that has got better is the number of police being recruited by West Mercia Constabulary - but it's tax payers that have paid for them through a 50 per cent increase in council tax bills in two years."

Worcestershire County Council's Labour leader Peter Pinfield (Droit.Town) said: "There are areas where the county is better off than it ever has for a long time.

"People will always argue that not enough is done and I do agree that more money is needed if we are to make greater achievements.

"I can only praise Mr Luff for putting our case forward."