Spending cuts to less affluent Labour councils are five times higher than in wealthier Tory areas, according to new research.

Research from Labour focusing on the period 2012 to 2020 has revealed the average cut per household in Conservative-controlled areas will be £68 by the end of this parliament while for Labour authorities the number is more than £340.

Labour criticised the cuts as ‘politically-motivated'.

The Conservatives are in charge of eight out of 10 of the councils that will receive the smallest cuts while Labour controls the 10 councils that will be hit by the biggest cuts to spending power. 

Labour's research also found nine of the 10 most deprived areas are facing higher than average cuts. 

Jon Trickett, shadow communities secretary, said: ‘Local government is under enormous pressure because of politically-motivated Tory cuts that hit the poorest hardest.?

‘The cuts are draconian. 

‘They are also vindictive.'