Labour calls for long-term flood protection plan devoid of politics

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell says issue should be taken 'out of party politics' to ensure experts' recommendations are implemented

John McDonnell has challenged the government to agree to a bipartisan long-term plan on flood protection, as Conservatives struggled to respond to accusations that they slashed the budget for defences in the last parliament.

The shadow chancellor said trying to save money by cutting back on flood protection was a false economy, suggesting that flooding this winter could have been averted if just half the estimated bill for the cleanup had been spent spent on defences.