Extreme spending plans could see the loss of over 1,200 Sure Start centres

We have seen several Sure Start centres close under the Tories in Swindon in the last couple of years, and if we lost the few we have left under another 5 years of Conservative government I really don’t know how parents would manage.

Over 1,200 Sure Start centres could go under in the next five years, thanks to the Tories’ extreme plans to cut spending in the next Parliament.

Sure Start closures will hit working families already struggling under David Cameron’s government. His cuts have left many Sure Start centres closed or mothballed while childcare costs have gone up six times faster than wages and available childcare places have fallen by 40,000.

Anne Snelgrove, Labour’s candidate for South Swindon, said: “We have seen several Sure Start centres close under the Tories in Swindon in the last couple of years, and if we lost the few we have left under another 5 years of Conservative government I really don’t know how parents would manage.

I am determined to continue the fight for our Sure Start centres, but only a Labour government will back me in that.”

Tristram Hunt, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, who has previously given his backing to Anne's campaign to protect Swindon's Children's Centres, said:  “The Tories pose a real threat to Sure Start – a service relied on by thousands of working families.

“Before the last election, David Cameron said he would protect Sure Start but since then there are hundreds fewer centres. If they get in again they’ll do the same again. Their extreme plans mean over 1,200 of the remaining centres – over a third of the total – face the axe.

“Working families can’t afford five more years of this failing Tory plan. We need Labour’s better plan, which will revive Sure Start, provide more childcare places and extend free childcare for working parents of three and four-year-olds.”