REDDITCH MP Jacqui Smith has responded to calls to join the fight for fairer funding in Worcestershire with claims that she "will not be lectured by Conservatives".

She said although she would always fight for more money for the county, it had already been more prosperous under the current Labour Government than it was under the Conservatives.

Last week, the Tory-led county council called for all county MPs to put aside party politics and rally behind the authority's campaign for a fairer Government grant.

The council is facing an £8.7 million black hole in its finances this year following a grant allocation from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) which Council Leader George Lord labelled "disgraceful".

But Ms Smith said: "By April 2008, funding for local government will have increased by 39 per cent in real terms since 1997, compared to a cut of seven per cent in real terms under the last four years of the Tories. Where were Worcestershire's Conservatives then?

"The recent funding announcements means that in Worcestershire there will have been an average increase of 4.5 per cent a year in the 10 years from 1997 to 2008. Of course we could do with more money but to have a credible case you must make credible statements. That's what I will do."

The Government's provisional grant to the county council is £69 million for 2006/07. This leaves an £8.7 million shortfall if it continues to deliver services at its current levels and only increases rates by five per cent or less. Reserves of £5.2 million have been earmarked to reduce the gap this year, with the authority looking to make £3.5 million more efficiency savings or face cutting services.