LIVERPOOL Mayor Joe Anderson attacked Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, saying the Tory had an "ivory tower mentality".
The mayor also said Mr Pickles, whose department has inflicted huge cuts on councils, was living in the "M25 bubble".
He challenged Mr Pickles to come to Liverpool to debate the effect of the city having to make cuts of £252 per person.
This compares to an average £61 across English councils.
Last week, the ECHO reported how Mayor Anderson had written to the Prime Minister warning of a repeat of last year’s riots due to the devastating effects of government cuts.
In a letter to the Prime Minister he said: "I believe that community cohesion is being seriously threatened by the lack of funding to our city and others, I believe that the so-called summer of discontent will happen again if we do not address this issue."
His warning coincided with Mr Pickles claimed council leaders who complain about cuts are talking "tosh".
Mayor Anderson said: "I am not saying we are going to have riots next summer. I am saying community cohesion is going to be impacted. People will not stand by and allow themselves to be down trodden."
"In two years time the situation is going to be dire." Mayor Anderson and the Bishop of Liverpool James Jones are to host a cuts summit next month with leaders from Bristol, Sheffield, and Birmingham.
" My challenge to Pickles is ‘if I am talking tosh, come and join me at our summit next month’. I know that Pickles will run scared because he has not got the guts to come to Liverpool to debate this issue.
"Pickled by name, Pickled by nature."
The mayor accused the secretary of state of having an "ivory tower mentality" and living in the "M25 bubble". He said the formula used to calculate funding for councils is outdated and does not reflect the varying needs across different areas.
Mr Pickles responded on Twitter saying: "Sorry I can't be with you in January but there is a coffee and a chat waiting for you in #dclg the next time you in London."
A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), said it was vital councils play their part in reducing public spending.
"We are giving local councils a fair deal – this year, Liverpool had a total spending power for each household of £2,465 to protect front-line services people rely on, almost £280 more than the English average of £2,186.
"In addition, the Government has supported Liverpool's local growth ambitions through its Enterprise Zone, a City Deal which includes a £75m fund to support economic development, six new Academies and 12 new schools, as well as £19.5m from the Growing Places Fund."
