News from East Midlands Labour

Tory councillor quits party, brands budget plan “a disgraceful attack on the elderly and vulnerable”

The Nottingham Evening Post has the news that a Conservative county councillor for Hucknall East, Robert Rankin, has resigned from the Tory party in protest of the council’s proposed budget, describing it as “a disgraceful attack on the elderly and vulnerable”.

Commenting Labour’s Communities and Local Government Secretary, John Denham, told Labour Matters:

“Cameron says his councils are a blueprint for a Tory government. This is another Tory Town Hall hitting those who need local services and shows the Conservative Party hasn’t changed. It’s about the wealthy few not the majority.

“Tory Town Halls mirror Cameron’s plans for central government – do as little as possible, block the recovery, don’t build for the future, and cut at every opportunity.

“The Conservative are backing a ‘Ryanair model’ for services, where people have to pay twice, once in council tax and once again even for the very basics. It’s not for those on middle-incomes and those with little money. It’s for those who can afford to pay taxes and then pay again, not for those who want the right to decent services wherever they live and whatever they can afford.”

Other news from East Midlands Labour

• New figures reveal Car Srappage Scheme's success in the East Midlands - 15 January 2010
• It would be great to see "football coming home to Nottingham" - 17 December 2009
• Housing projects in the East Midlands short-listed for welcome cash boost - 16 December 2009