Tories target Sure Start

Labour is joining forces with Medway Sure Start users in Rochester, Strood, Chatham and Gillingham and families across Medway in a campaign to Save Our Sure Start children's centres from any potential plans to cut their funding and prevent access to these valuable services for families on middle and modest incomes.

Whilst we have received re-assurances that no Sure Start will be closed Conservatives have not clarified whether the budget for Sure Start centres will rise with inflation or whether indeed intend to reduce or freeze the grant that is being received by the centres.

If the Tories keep the budget static or reduce the grants for the Sure Start centres they will be fundamentally undermining the principle of targeted early-years intervention. This will force the centres to cut services.

The concern in Medway follows the evidence that Conservatives elsewhere in the Country are targeting Sure Start for budget freezes and/or cuts.

Medway Conservative press statements have not confirmed the budget for the centres nor whether they will increase investment by inflation.

Labour is working with Sure Start users and families to ensure that Tories are well aware that any budget cuts to this services will be highlighted as a grave betrayal to the most disadvantaged families.

Conservatives friends of the current administration in Hammersmith and Fulham have made an ideological decision to cut Sure Start centres and other local authorities have introduced a real term freeze in budget.

Tories in Hammersmith and Fulham have withdrawn direct funding to nine out of its 15 Sure Start children's centres, which provide childcare and support for parents with children aged under six.

Prime Minister David Cameron said at his party's 2009 conference: "Sure Start will stay, and we'll improve it."

Another Tory promise broken? We will find out soon enough.

The Tories need to be clear about the size of the education budget in Medway and stop the smoke-and-mirrors budget re-allocations which are no more then cuts in name.