Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/702/13578
From The Socialist newspaper, 25 January 2012
Kirklees parents say 'save our children's centres!'
Mike Forster
Towards the end of last year, the Labour-led Kirklees council in Yorkshire announced a consultation over the future of 32 Sure Start centres.
The council proposes mothballing 17 of these centres, in effect halving essential childcare provision in Kirklees, once again hiding behind the government's cuts.
Refusing to even stand up to the Con-Dem government's agenda, the Labour councillors have merely decided to pass on these cuts.
But parents are resisting. At the start of January, a Saturday morning meeting of 35 parents launched a campaign and a 12-strong committee is now meeting every week to coordinate opposition.
Signatures
They have collected thousands of signatures, made three MPs support their campaign, organised two further public meetings, organised another bigger lobby of the council and called a local demo on 3 March.
Every centre is being visited by the committee to gather more signatures and identify more parent reps to coordinate the fightback.
The parents are supported by the local Unison branch which has donated £1,000 to the local group and offered practical support.
Parents are now lobbying every councillor demanding that they stop the phoney consultation exercise and look instead at measures to keep every centre open.
Local councillors are being bombarded with emails and invitations to visit the centres they intend to mothball.
Mayor apologises
The Kirklees mayor has been forced to apologise for the "ignorant and unprofessional" conduct of a councillor.
Four parents had separately addressed the full council, but one councillor, Shabir Pandor, fell asleep during their impassioned submission.
Additionally, the Labour leader of the council was alleged to have been arranging to meet a friend on his Blackberry!
Parents are considering standing candidates in May's local elections against councillors who refuse to support the campaign.
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In The Socialist 25 January 2012:
Anti-cuts campaign
Hard Times - but not for the 1%
Socialist Party editorial
Add your name to the TUSC petition
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition election conference
Socialist Party news and analysis
Public sector pensions: 'Coalition of the willing' gathering strength
Financial vultures kill Peacocks
Fight the Tories' Welfare Reform Bill
Victory against Dorries' abstinence education bill
Keep the racist EDL out of Leicester
Education
Haringey parents say: No to academies!
NUS calls national student walkout
Socialist Party feature
Balfour Beatty re-ballot: Vote to strike again
Sweetheart stitch-ups in the electrical industry: A spark's history of the Joint Industry Board
Exposed - the dirty world of the construction blacklist
International socialist news and analysis
Egypt - A year of revolution and counter-revolution
Socialist Party workplace news
Stepping up the action to defend pensions at Unilever
Defend Len Hockey: Outrageous attack on Whipps Cross hospital workers
Pontefract hospital: Army withdrawn - now kick out PFI!
Llanelli: Save Prince Philip's A&E
Stop the Salford day centre closures
Kirklees parents say 'save our children's centres!'
Greenwich Unite members oppose cuts, privatisation and racism
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