The speed and scale of Britain's spending cuts risks damaging the economy and public services, dozens of members of the junior coalition partner said in a highly critical letter that points to strains in the government.
The Liberal Democrat leaders of 17 local councils and scores of councillors said on Thursday the government had not given them enough time to make savings as part of an austerity drive to reduce a record peacetime budget deficit.
Their criticism was published a day after the Lib Dem finance spokesman in the upper House of Lords, Matthew Oakeshott, stepped down after excoriating a coalition deal with banks to curb bonuses.
Popular support for the Lib Dems has slumped since the party formed a coalition with the larger Conservatives after an inconclusive election last May following 13 years of Labour party government.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg faces fierce criticism from party activists over his role in the spending cuts and plans to raise tuition fees for students. The centrist party typically attracts more support in local elections than national votes.
"Rather than assist the country's recovery by making public sector savings in a way that can protect local economies and the front line, the cuts are so structured that they will do the opposite," the Lib Dems said in a letter to the Times newspaper.
Their remarks echo the opposition Labour argument that the cuts are taking place too quickly and are too large, jeopardising Britain's fragile economic recovery.
Prime minister David Cameron wants to cut public spending by more than 80 billion over four years.
The signatories also accused Conservative local government secretary Eric Pickles of bullying councils into making cuts with "gunboat diplomacy", rather than holding meaningful talks.
"Instead of chastising and denigrating local authorities through the media, the government should deploy all its efforts to help councils minimise the impact on vulnerable communities and front-line services," the letter said.
Local government leaders say that means they will have to close hundreds of libraries, sports centres, public toilets and services for the elderly, disabled and children.
Liberal Democrat communities minister Andrew Stunell said he realised how hard it would be for councils to make savings, but he blamed the last government's economic legacy for the cuts.
"It will be much better to direct all our energy to solving these problems rather than falling out between ourselves," he said in a statement.
"It would be a real lost opportunity if we let that slip while we engage in pointless debate."
Reuters