What should the budget be for? Cllr Owens at the district budget last night said that it shouldn’t be about throwing money at people – a reference to details in the Labour budget that he clearly knew was coming.

Both budgets were clearly written with one eye on the election in June (perhaps even both eyes). The Tories with a very simple budget, pushing forward themes that they have been pursuing for the past couple of years – recycling and cleaner streets. The Labour budget aimed at the bigger picture: keeping promises from last year (free pest control, beacon visitor centre, cemetary) and a new pledge for capital funding for regeneration of the council estates.

Although they’re taking the credit, the conservative budget is actually implementing Labour policies and appears to be based on money coming from central government and from the county council. It also means that a Labour controlled council would be doing the same thing anyway. In real terms, it is a standstill budget.

The Labour budget on the other hand, is taking the freedoms that have been allowed by the Labour government and using them to create a budget for regeneration.

The Conservatives are claiming that the Labour budget is mortgaging the people of West Lancashire. That Labour is irresponsible, vindictive even!

The truth of the matter is that all councils borrow, and the Conservatives have borrowed while in power. The difference is that Labour is targetting the spend towards the council estates that need the investment, rather than the rural Tory strongholds or their target seats.

A more prosperous Skelmersdale would mean a better West Lancashire for everyone. Skelmersdale is already the industrial heart of the district. With the changes to business rates that the government is proposing, a prosperous Skelmersdale would mean much more money for the local council, and more available for further investment into front line services.

The conservatives will give a knee-jerk reaction to the Labour budget, but their budget is about standing still, while our budget is about looking forward, building a future and taking the first steps towards it.