A senior Conservative councillor faced with cutting most non-statutory services says national politicians escape the political fallout because cuts largely hit a relatively small group of people.

Cllr Keith Glazier, leader of East Sussex CC, said his council is now consulting on a ‘core offer' which would largely only protect statutory services. The council has cut £129m from services since 2010 and needs to find another £45m in cuts from its 2018-19 budget of £371m by 2021-22.He told the Financial Times the council faces a ‘perfect storm' with its central government grant falling when the numbers of older people and children needing support are rising – and  with more children are being looked after.