‘Stop political points scoring’

to the Prime Minister, an order for PPE that still hasn’t arrived and now repeatedly misconstrued figures around funding.

“It’stimeforLabourinSunderlandtogrowup,showsome leadershipandworkconstructively for the good of local residents.”

Since the start of the coronaviruslockdown,Sunderland has been allocated more than £18million over two rounds of handouts from a government fund worth £3.2billion to support local authorities.

Councilsacrossthecountry have seen their accounts torn apart by the COVID-19 outbreak, with the income from carparks,rentsandcounciltax slashed, while expenses continue to soar.

But critics of the scheme, including Wearside’s council bosses,haveclaimednorthern councilshavelostoutattheexpense of southern areas.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, home of former Prime Minister Theresa May, is one of the places in their sights, after it was given an extra £1million in its second funding round, compared to the first.

SCC, by contrast, was allocated almost £3million less.

The city’s Conservatives have argued that, even taking this into account, Wearside is still receiving £65.45 per head, comparedto£47.46perperson in Windsor and Maidenhead.

“The local Conservatives really need to get a grip on the reality of the situation and be reminded that they are here to represent the people of Sunderland,notleafyWindsorand Maidenhead,”saidcabinetsecretary Paul Stewart.

“COVID-19 is impacting more on the North East and Sunderland and we desperately need additional funding to support our communities.”