A WAR of words has broken out after an AM accused the Lib Dems of selling out and claimed vital council services in Swansea will suffer as £6 billion worth of cuts are made across the country.

City-based AM Dai Lloyd, who is also Plaid's local government spokesperson, claimed: "Council services including social services, education, housing, highways and other key areas will come under even more pressure now, following the Lib Dem decision to form this right-wing Government," he said.

Dr Lloyd, who is also a former city councillor, said the situation had been different before the outcome of the election gave Nick Clegg's party a chance to join government.

"In the lead up to the general election, the Liberal Democrats had been in agreement with Plaid and Labour claiming savage public sector cuts this year would be unwise as it would threaten the economic recovery," he said.

Dr Lloyd said the Lib Dems had now signed up to "the biggest public sector cuts since the Thatcher years".

He added: "This Lib-Dem economic sellout has the potential to hit places such as Swansea very hard."

Sell-out

Dr Lloyd went on to blast the Lib Dems for their role in the coalition, adding: "This economic package, with its negative impact on Wales, is a sell-out of the highest order."

However, Lib Dem leader of Swansea Council Chris Holley hit back and accused Dr Lloyd's party of hypocrisy.

"If Plaid wants to heap responsibility for the mess we are in, they need to look at their partners in Cardiff," he said.

Councillor Holley claimed that the Assembly, governed by the Labour and Plaid coalition, had cut budgets over the past few years for their own projects.

"It is absolutely hypocritical and very rich coming from one of the partners in the Assembly to talk about any frontline services," said councillor Holley.

He also claimed the Assembly coalition is responsible for some of the worse school buildings in the UK.

"Labour and Plaid have no respect for Welsh children," said Councillor Holley.

He also told the Post the new government had agreed certain safeguards for vital services.

"There is a guarantee of protection for the health service in the UK and also for schools," said Councillor Holley.

emma.denholm@swwmedia.co.uk