The Labour Leader of Reading Borough Council, David Sutton, has warned the electorate to think carefully about what’s at stake at Thursday’s local elections following a recent survey on social care by the charity MENCAP which singled out only four English councils for special criticism. Two of the four were Tory-controlled Wokingham and West Berkshire. Given that Labour have only a four-seat majority on Reading Borough Council, Thursday’s elections will decide who controls vital local services in Reading.

West Berkshire and Wokingham only provide social care services for those with a critical need - this means that social services in those areas may not support people even in situations where ‘abuse or neglect has occurred’ or where the person ‘cannot carry out the majority of their personal care or domestic routines and there is no-one available to provide the help needed’. In Reading similar cuts would result in more than 1700 people being removed from the social services register.

In contrast Reading’s Labour council has protected vital services for vulnerable people and has pledged to continue to do this in the future. Labour in Reading has also invested new money in children’s play facilities and children’s centres; and has provided generous support for voluntary sector organisations and charities.

Councillor Sutton says:

“A combination of bitter experience, backed up by the results of the MENCAP survey show beyond a shadow of a doubt that neighbouring Tory councils in West Berkshire and Wokingham cannot be trusted to defend public services and are cutting back funding and resources for the elderly, disabled, and children. All of this would be at risk if the Tories took power in Reading.”

These warnings were backed up by research published on Monday in the Daily Mirror which shows that when Conservatives take control of town halls, services for pensioners and children suffer.

Reading West MP, Martin Salter, said:

“The Conservative record on caring services is nothing short of abysmal and not the sort of thing I want to see here in Reading. The research shows that Tory Enfield has cut Shopmobility funds, Hammersmith and Fulham is proposing to slash play services, libraries, homeless hostels, community centres and youth clubs. Conservative Barnet has cut budgets for schools, parks and libraries and in Medway in Kent Conservative councillors have voted to levy charges on helpers accompanying disabled bus passengers. Nearer to home the Tories have shown how little they care about the elderly by denying pensioners free bus passes until forced to offer them by a Labour government as well as making savage cuts to home care for the old and vulnerable.”

Councillor Sutton added:

“Sometimes people may think their vote won’t make a difference, there is no doubt that this year the electors of Reading have a clear choice;  a vote for the Tories risks cuts to Reading’s vibrant voluntary sector and a marked reduction in care services for the elderly. Politicians should be judged as much as by what they do as by what they say and here in Reading Labour has ensured these services are protected. Whereas over the border the evidence of harsh and uncaring policies is there for everyone to see. There is no doubt that Thursday is Decision Day for the people of Reading.”