Is Surrey council taking a stand, or letting the Tories off the hook? | Letters

Polly Toynbee's article in praise of the leader of Surrey county council misses some fundamental points (It's a crisis indeed when the social care rebels are Tories, 24 January). While David Hodge's stance may be well-intentioned, it makes him an accessory to his party's cuts, rather than a rebel against them. Transferring responsibility to local level is a key part of the government's strategy, so that the blame for its austerity policies can be shifted to others. This is true across the spectrum of local authority and health services.

The notion that it is appropriate to transfer the burden of cuts to local council tax-payers should be challenged. Local Government Association and Cipfa leadership might be more usefully directed to this as a campaign focus of national interest.