Labour attacks £115m fall in flood management spending

Environment secretary promises to review investment in flood defences in light of deluge in Cumbria and Lancashire

Ministers have been accused of failing flood-stricken communities in the north-west of England, after Labour highlighted a 115m fall in spending on risk management and defences this year.

Liz Truss, the environment secretary, defended the current level of spending as she was repeatedly pressed by MPs in the Commons about the impact of budget cuts. But she promised to review the "way we invest in flood defences" in light of the latest floods to hit Cumbria and Lancashire.