Northumberland Labour says the county council’s treatment of people with additional needs shows they are seen as less important by council leaders.

The comments come after Brightside, the company which provides education-based support to many vulnerable people across the county, has been offered between a nil and seven per cent uplift on their various services in contrast with the 9.55 per cent offered to direct workers this year.

Brightside director Amy Jane Farrar said: “In our view an offer of between nil and seven per cent is a clear discrimination against any individuals who access services on direct payment.”

Labour’s shadow cabinet member for adult wellbeing Mark Purvis said: “For the council to effectively cut direct payments to young adults and leave them with the difference to find is totally unacceptable.

“We would urge those who support vulnerable young people to get in touch with their social worker and write to their MP.

“For our part we will be holding the council leaders to account on this. Young vulnerable people must be protected and not find themselves on the receiving end of cuts which will drastically affect their quality of life.”