Revised 14th December 2009

Sure Start was introduced by our Labour Government.  

The Children's Centre where Sure Start is based. A great Seacombe asset under a Labour Government.

Brought in to ameliorate and remedy more than a decade of under 5s neglect, following the dark years of the Thatcher/Major Conservative governments, Sure Start has been of immense benefit to children and young families all over the country; nowhere more than in Seacombe.

The Tory attitude to children’s welfare was demonstrated by Mrs Thatcher when as Education Minister she notoriously ended the daily milk allowance given to all children under a previous  Labour Government.  Older readers will recall the widespread children’s slogan at the time: ‘Tory Thatcher, milk snatcher.’

Should David Cameron ever lead a government in this country then measures already revealed as Tory policy in their publication ‘Helping new families’ would demonstrate their cynicism. They intend to cut £200 million a year from Children’s Centres to spend elsewhere.    This they describe as ‘helping’ families as though by attaching the positive term ‘helping’ to a savage cut they will in some way win over the public mind.   

Their planned funding reduction would cause many Sure Start centres to close at a time when their leader has declared that they will give enormous tax cuts to the millionaires such as the bankers and financiers who led the world to economic collapse.  There are 14 millionaires in Cameron’s shadow cabinet.

As many as four of Labour’s Sure Start Centres could be lost on Wirral. 

But why should the truth get in the way of Tory propaganda?  A Wallasey Tory Councillor (who should know better)  has raised a motion to Council fancifully alleging that the Council intends to introduce huge cuts to Sure Start. It’s not true and she knows it’s not true.

 Here is the truth:

• No Sure Start Centre has had any funding reduced – and the Tory lady knows that very well.
• No future Sure Start plans are threatened in any way -  and the Tory lady knows that very well.
• The Labour Government provided full year funding for the second phase of Sure Start – and the Tory lady knows that very well.
• Funding left over from the previous year has not been taken away but has been used precisely to fund activites for under 5s – and the Tory lady knows that very well.
• These additional activities for under 5s will also attract Sure Start funding – and the Tory lady knows that very well.
• Savings have occured because the Council was able to use outstanding Sure Start grant for activities that would have otherwise had to be funded by taking resources from other areas – and the Tory lady knows that very well.

Labour created it. Labour will protect it. Would you ever trust the Tories with it?

Can it be that what the Tory lady has grasped best of all is that smoke screens are needed by her Party because the reality is so utterly different? 

According to this absurd Tory logic their way of  ‘helping’  families is to support them in the way a rope supports a hanging man.

Wallasey Tories continue to publish distortions wrapped up in tired, entirely fictitious, claims of   “secret” plans.  They must think the general public in Wallasey are truly gullible if they want them to believe that sort of vulgar scaremongering. 

Sadly we are used to it, so once more we must set out what the truth is.  But aren’t the Wallasey Tories utterly silly with their propaganda to keep on giving us opportunities to expose their distortions?  It can’t do their credibility any favours to keep on being publicly corrected.

So, contrary to the Tory propaganda claims, here’s the truth:

• There are no plans, secret or otherwise, to cut Sure Start funding.  The Tories know that as well as anyone. 
• No Sure Start Centre has had any funding reduced.
• No future plans are threatened in any way – at least not as long as there is a strong Labour voice to prevent it.
•  The LABOUR government created Sure Start.  It provided full year funding for the second phase of new Children Centres.
• Any funding left over in that year because the agreed timescale meant new buildings were completed part way through the year, or the full complement of staff were only appointed part way through the year, has been used to fund other activities for under 5s.
• These other activities for under 5s are also eligible for Sure Start grant – as the Tories know very well – even while they are peddling their distortions.
• The saving occurs because the Council has been able to use outstanding Sure Start grant in that year for activities for which it would otherwise have had to find additional funding for from within its own budget.

Contrast this prudent and well planned support for Sure Start on Wirral with the national Conservative position – where Sure Start has been deliberately targeted for cuts and where Tory plans could mean almost one in five Sure Start centres across the country closing.

If a Conservative government were elected nationally then for Wirral it could mean the closure of up to 4 Sure Start Centres.

Can you ever believe a word the Tories say?

All over the country Tory Councils are making severe cuts.  Our ‘News Feeds’ links take you direct to news reports of what is happening, and this is constantly up-dated.  But the question many are asking is ‘What might Tory cuts mean here in the Wirral?’

SURE START 

Unless Wirral Tories publish their exact intentions, should they be able to form an administration, then it is reasonable to assume that they will behave similarly to some other Tory Councils.  On present projections Tory cuts could mean almost one in five Sure Start centres closing.  This could, in the Wirral, mean up to 4 Sure Start centres closing. 

To find the names and locations of local Children’s Centres click on the link below:

www.surestart.gov.uk/surestartservices/settings/fundedsettings/

POLICE

Tory cuts to the Home Office budget would be equivalent to 112 fewer police officers in Merseyside police force.

SCHOOLS

Tory cuts to Labour’s school building programme would put at risk 22 school rebuilding projects, affecting the entire secondary school rebuilding programme in the Wirral.

SMALL GRANTS

Small grants awarded to local groups could be almost wiped out. These are examples of the sort of local groups that have received funding from this budget this year. Voluntary groups can continue to apply for funding in future years. However, the Tories’ £100 million cuts this year would threaten the funding of these groups today.

• Civil Services Pensioners Alliance Wirral
• Hoylake Choral Society
• Goyararu Contemporary Arts Centre
• Sandbrook Community Centre
• Wirral Festival of Music, Speech & Drama
• Peninsula Canoe Club
• Beechwood Falcon Jfc
• New Ferry Regen Action Group
• Youth and Elderley Society
• Bidston Junior Badmington Club
• Wirral Sapphires Majorettes Troupe
• Wirral Disability Swimming Development Group
• Tranmere Action Group
• Birkenhead Phab Club
• 3E’s
• Wirral Pathfinders Self Help Support Group
• Independent Direct Payment Forum
• Families Need Fathers