MPs accused the government of being complacent over the English councils’ cash crisis driven by Westminster cuts.

The Commons public accounts committee warns in a report published today that local authorities face an “unsustainable” £5 billion funding gap within 10 years.

It has called for the government to step in with additional funds to fend off a worsening crisis, with chairwoman and Labour MP Meg Hillier warning that there was “only so far the elastic can be stretched before it snaps.