Save our Sure Start!
March 17th 2010
David Cameron’s cuts to Sure Start children’s centres would deal a devastating blow to Southampton families on middle and modest incomes - that was the message from John Denham and Alan Whitehead as they launched their “Save Our Sure Start” campaign against Tory plans to take £200 million from Sure Start.
On the same day that Labour announced it has delivered on its pledge to build 3,500 Sure Start centres across England, the campaign in Southampton against Conservative plans to cut Sure Start for families on middle and modest incomes gathered pace, with people campaigning door to door and online at www.saveoursurestart.com
John Denham, MP for Southampton Itchen, said:
“Sure Start has given thousands of children the best possible start in life, delivering real benefits to the education and health of families across Southampton. I’m proud that with Labour’s continued support for Sure Start, all families, including those on middle and modest incomes, will continue to have access these wonderful facilities.
“Mums and dads in Southampton are taking a long, hard look at the Tories and they can see how much damage David Cameron’s Sure Start cuts could do to. That’s why I’m backing the campaign to “Save Our Sure Start” here in Southampton. People must realise that Sure Starts, like the one on Thornhill which I visited recently, will only be safe in Labour’s hands.
Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, added:
“Before Labour came to power there were no Sure Start centres. But today there are thousands of families on middle and modest incomes across Southampton who rely upon the fantastic services they provide.
“By offering top-class support to all mums and dads, Sure Start has changed countless lives for the better. How would the families who use Sure Start every day, cope if their local centre was to close? I just don’t know - and the Tories just don’t seem to care. That’s why I’m determined to take the fight out into communities across Southampton, and online at www.saveoursurestart.com I would urge all parents to join the campaign.
“By diverting £200 million of funding away from Sure Start, David Cameron has shown once again that he has the wrong priorities for Britain. But with Labour’s future fair for all, every child is guaranteed the Sure Start in life that they deserve.”
Karen Bhatti, a mum from Bargate said:
“I use the Orchard Lane Sure Start Children's Centre in Southampton and I know that our children have had a better start in life because of Sure Start.
“The help I’ve received went beyond coping with the initial stages of parenting. I was also able to get help for the future of my family.
“I don't trust David Cameron and his party with the things that matter to me and my family."
Notes to Editors
- You can see the Facebook campaign websirte at www.saveoursurestart.com
- There are now 3,500 Sure Start Children’s Centres – reaching families in every community in England - which provide support to almost 2.4 million children under five and their families. Labour is committed to maintaining high quality services that are open to everyone in the community whatever their background or circumstances.
- Independent research has found that Sure Start improves children’s life chances by assisting their social development before they go to school whilst giving parents advice on getting back into work or training opportunities.
- The Conservatives’ plans would mean to cutting at least £200 million a year from the Sure Start programme. That represents 19.5% of the total budget, or the equivalent of one-in-five centres. David Cameron says he wants to leave Sure Start for the “poor”, cutting off families on middle or modest incomes.
- Under George Osborne’s plans for deep and premature spending cuts, the Conservatives would be under pressure to reduce Sure Start even further, denying much-needed healthcare and parental support to even more families.
- Labour always intended Sure Start to be a universal service available to all families and will maintain its investment in policies to benefit all the people of Britain.
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