Labour is today joining forces with families across England in a campaign to Save Our Sure Start children's centres from David Cameron's plans to cut their funding and prevent access to these valuable services for families on middle and modest incomes. Children's Secretary Ed Balls launched the campaign today as he welcomed the opening of the 3,500th Sure Start children's centre for parents and children across England. Families are invited to show how much they love their Sure Start centre at a new website www.saveoursurestart.com. The Tories would cut Sure Start from families on middle and modest incomes. Instead of the universal service Labour has created for all families, the Tories have said they would cut £200 million each year from the Sure Start budget - which could see one in five children's centres being forced to close. Labour's campaign is backed by ordinary families, children's champions and celebrity mums, including Arabella Weir, Jo Brand and actress Michelle Collins. Michelle Collins, celebrity Labour supporter and former EastEnders star said: "There's nothing more important than giving all children the best possible start in life.

It is important to make sure the policies we are putting forward fit with women’s lives. We have always challenged inequality and thought about what women want, and what opportunities there are for women. Working mums still feel they are stretched in eight different directions at once.
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Ed Balls MP, Labour's Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, is today urging people to take a long hard look at the Tories plans for schools. He is challenging the Tories to come clean on how they will pay for their two flagship schools policies – new ‘free market' schools and a national ‘pupil premium'. Earlier today, Ed Balls set out to Parliament further details of funding for schools up to 2013, following the Pre-Budget Report announcement that funding for Labour's frontline priorities will be protected, including schools, Sure Start and 16-19 education. Ed Balls MP said: "Labour's Pre-Budget Report made clear that while there will be tough decisions to halve the deficit within four years, we will protect frontline funding for our priorities, including schools, Sure Start and 16-19 education.