The Swindon Labour Group has obtained information that shows that Swindon Borough Council has spent £1.8m on external consultants between 27th September 2011 and 26th September 2012. The Swindon Labour Group Leader, Councillor Jim Grant, has called the money spent on consultants as an “insult” to all Council staff who have lost or will be losing their jobs as a result of Council spending cuts. 158 different consultants have been used by the Council over the last year.