THE FORMER mayor of Reading has called out the town's two MPs on social media after the extent of central government cuts to Reading Borough Council's budget took a new twist today.

As reported by the Chronicle, Reading Borough Council plans to increase council tax to residents by 4.99 per cent, compared to the 3.99 per cent last year.

The council immediately posted a picture on Twitter showing the decline in funding from central government.

Labour member Councillor Sarah Hacker, who stood as Mayor in 2015/2016, also took to social media following the annoucement, and demanded MPs Alok Sharma and Rob Wilson to make a public explanation.

Her tweet reads: "And whose government is implementing these cuts? #rdguk MPs @AlokSharma_RDG & @RobWilson_RDG. Time they stood up for #rdg."

Speaking to the media earlier today, Cllr Jo Lovelock, leader of the council, added: “With no extra money forthcoming from Government and yet more cuts on the horizon, the responsibility for paying for the huge demands on adult and children’s social care has been firmly passed on to local tax payers by this Government."

"Next year alone £90 million of rates collected from local businesses will leave Reading and go to Government," said Cllr Lovelock.

"In Reading we keep 25p in every pound of business rates which means the government claws back 75 per cent.

"This is on top of the £50 million it has removed from the Council since 2011."

The decision to increase the council tax rate in Reading is expected to be approved on February 13.

Both MPs have been approached for a comment.