Local government could experience planned Spending Review cuts of up to 12% in 2015/16 if police and defence budgets are bolstered, modelling by leading public finance experts has indicated.

A background briefing, given jointly by the Institute for Government (IFG) and the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) on 7 June, detailed the likely effect of trade-offs between protected areas like health, education and overseas aid and unprotected public services – including local government and transport.